- The European Union is resisting the UK's demand for an annual cap on participants in a proposed youth exchange scheme.
- The UK insists on a hard annual cap, potentially in the tens of thousands, for the scheme allowing under-30s to live, work, and study in each other's territories.
- Brussels proposes an alternative ‘emergency brake’ monitoring mechanism, arguing the scheme is not a migration programme and aims to build bridges between younger Britons and the EU post-Brexit.
- Disagreements also extend to university tuition fees, with EU negotiators wanting their students to pay the same rates as British counterparts in the UK.
- This dispute over the youth experience scheme is a key point of contention ahead of a major summit between Sir Keir Starmer and EU chiefs expected in June or July.
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