UK-EU youth mobility scheme key to better EU relations, says top diplomat

A poll found almost seven in 10 Britons would support scheme to allow 200,000 18- to 40-year-olds from the UK and the EU to travel, study and work freely in each other’s countries for up to four years. Photograph: Imago/Alamy

Keir Starmer’s effort to reset Britain’s relations with its European allies is contingent upon a UK-EU youth mobility scheme, a top diplomat has indicated.

Miguel Berger, Germany’s ambassador to the UK, said stability across Europe could be undermined if the allies could not secure a number of “clear measures” that demonstrate the “concrete advantages” of their relationship – one being the youth mobility scheme.