EU demands half a MILLION young Europeans are allowed into Britain under Keir Starmer's 'youth free movement' scheme
Brussels is demanding that as many as half a million young EU citizens are allowed to live in Britain under Keir Starmer 's post-Brexit EU deal.
The Prime Minister has agreed in principle a 'youth experience scheme' that would allow adults aged up to 30 to come to the UK to work and study.
Ministers want the scheme, which is reciprocal for UK citizens wishing to go to the continent, capped below 100,000.
But an EU official last night suggested it would want the scheme to be similar in scale to the one Britain has with Australia.
However, given the EU's population is 450million, compared to Australia's 26million, it raises the prospect of allowing in 500,000 from the continent.
The Brussels official told the Times: 'Are Australians better than Europeans? If the same model applies, then the numbers would have to be much higher or it would be hurtful.
'What is the British problem with our young people, our children?'
Much a figure would trigger a massive new immigration row, with Sir Keir facing demands to bring down net migration figures that rose out of control under the previous Tory government.
As part of his Brexit 'reset' deal, Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to continue talks with Brussels on the 'youth experience' scheme.
EU member states had demanded a youth mobility scheme in exchange for the Prime Minister's desire for closer post-Brexit defence and trade ties with the bloc.
Following Monday's UK-EU summit in London, it was announced that both sides would 'co-operate further' on establishing such a scheme.
But Downing Street last night insisted the Government had set a series of 'red lines' for those continuing discussions.
These include EU migrants not being able to bring dependents or claim benefits under the proposed scheme, while they must pay to use the NHS.
No10 also stressed there would be a cap on the number of youth visas that would be issued to EU nationals.
It has previously been reported that Germany, Poland and Romania are particularly concerned about EU migrants in Britain having to pay healthcare charges.
Downing Street declined to say when a youth mobility scheme with the EU might be finalised.
'We'll now be working with the EU on the details and we'll provide an update on that in due course,' Sir Keir's spokesman added.
He also stressed that an EU scheme would 'mirror' the existing youth mobility schemes the UK has with other countries.
Britain currently has such schemes with Andorra, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, San Marino, Taiwan, and Uruguay.
Under the UK's youth mobility scheme with Australia, applicants must have £2,530 in savings, pay a £298 application fee, and stump up £776 per year to use the NHS.
Those aged 18 to 35 from Australia can apply for a youth mobility visa to live and work in the UK for up to two years, with the possibility for a one-year extension.
For this year, the number of youth visas is capped at 42,000 for Australians, 10,000 for Canadians, 9,500 for New Zealanders, and 6,000 for those from Japan.
But the actual number of visas granted is much less, with just over 24,000 youth mobility visas issued by the UK across all 13 schemes in 2024.
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