After years of political tension between London and Brussels, a new initiative is on the horizon that could signal a reset in relations between the UK and the European Union. We are talking about the possibility of introducing special visas for young people – the so-called “youth opportunities scheme”, which will allow young people to live, work and study in EU countries for up to two to four years.
Such an initiative is not only about travel. It is about restoring the lost connection between the generations that grew up in the conditions of an open Europe and those who, after Brexit, were left without rights that seemed natural just yesterday.
Lost opportunities
One of the most tangible losses since Britain left the EU was the cancellation of the country’s participation in the Erasmus+ program, the European student exchange program that opened young people’s doors to universities, internships and cultural experiences across Europe. In 2019-2020, under the auspices of this program, almost 17,000 British students and interns went abroad, while more than 22,000 Europeans came to Britain (data from the European Commission).
The Erasmus+ program was not just an educational mechanism. It shaped a generation of Europeans who thought beyond national boundaries, built careers and connections across the continent, and overcame prejudices and political barriers.
After Brexit, these opportunities were cut short. As the publication notes The Guardian, Great Britain “deliberately closed itself off from its neighbors”, and young people were among the first to suffer the consequences.
New hopes and old fears
In June 2024, the European Commission once again proposed to return to the idea of youth exchange with Great Britain. But last year’s proposals were roundly rejected by both Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government and Labor, who feared associations with “free movement” – one of the main irritants for Brexit supporters.
Now, as reported The Independent, diplomats made efforts to “repackage” the initiative, replacing the term “mobility” with the less politicized “opportunity”. The likely new scheme will provide for special visas for young people under 30 for a period of up to 4 years, with the right to work and study in any of the EU countries (and vice versa).
The idea has already been supported by the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who said at a meeting with EU ambassadors that “the scheme will help economic growth and allow young people to gain vital experience.” He also recalled that he considers Brexit a mistake that “negatively affects both Britain and Europe as a whole.”
Changes on the horizon?
New Labor leader Keir Starmer has promised a “reset” of relations with the EU. Since October 2024, it has already signed new agreements with Germany and Estonia in the field of security and defense, and now there is a chance to take a step in the direction of cultural and educational integration.
The British government, however, remains cautious. As the government spokesman says, “there will be no return to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single market.” However, British society is increasingly ready to make concessions: survey conducted YouGov in 2023, showed that 66% of Britons support easing visa rules for young people – even in regions that voted for Brexit.
Not only about young people
Changes in youth mobility can have implications far beyond student classrooms. In the conditions of geopolitical instability, threats from the USA (in particular, tariffs announced by Donald Trump), the EU is not only a market for Britain, but also an ally.
Britain is already feeling the economic consequences of Brexit. The Office for Budget Responsibility warns of a long-term drop in productivity of 4% as a result of the break with the EU. Problems with the supply of medicines, difficulties with scientific research and a decline in international prestige have become common subjects in the British news.
The Youth Opportunities Scheme is a chance to get back at least some of what was lost after Brexit. It will not abolish customs barriers, will not open access to the single market, will not restore cooperation in science in full. But it will allow a new generation of Britons and Europeans to look each other in the eye again — not through screens, but in classrooms, at work, in dormitories and coffee shops. And perhaps this will be the beginning of a new European chapter for Britain.
As of the summer of 2024, the issue of Brexit no longer occupies leading positions on the public agenda of Great Britain. According to polls, only about 5% of Britons consider relations with the EU to be the most important political issue. Instead, the top five priorities of citizens in July look like this: health care system (47%), economy (34%), immigration (31%), inflation (21%) and housing (18%).
Infographic: IA “FACT”
At the same time, although the topic of the EU has receded into the background, the attitude towards Brexit itself has undergone significant changes. The data shows a marked disappointment with the 2016 selection. According to a poll in May 2024, about 65% of Britons think that leaving the European Union was a mistake. Only 35% still believe that the decision was correct. In June 2024, when asked how they would vote today, 55% of respondents answered that they would support returning to the EU, 35% were in favor of remaining outside the Union, and another 10% could not decide.
Infographic: IA “FACT”
This data is published on the platform Brexit FactBase – an online resource that systematizes analytics, statistics, and the chronology of the consequences of Great Britain’s exit from the European Union. It provides access to structured and constantly updated data on the economic, political and social effects of Brexit, as well as to the results of public opinion polls.
The Stop Brexit man won the right to protest
The British online publication with libertarian and countercultural leanings Spiked published the article “The Stop Brexit man must have the right to be annoying”, where it analyzed the legal victory of the activist Steve Bray, known for his loud protests against Brexit in the center of London. Despite numerous complaints, the court recognized that his actions are part of the fundamental right to protest, even if they cause irritation. This case is important not only for Bray himself, but for everyone who values freedom of expression and protest in a democratic society.
This protest is not just an episodic appearance of an eccentric character, but a symbol of a broader shift in public opinion. According to the latest polls (as we have already noted), about 65% of Britons in 2024 believe that leaving the EU was a mistake, and more than half want to return to the European Union. The protests, even if they appear comical or excessive, show that Brexit discontent has not disappeared, but has turned into a distinct civil movement, albeit with different forms of expression.
What does Steve Bray’s case tell us? Political discontent in Britain is deep-rooted, showing itself even nearly a decade after the referendum. The right to protest in the UK is under pressure, with the authorities trying to curb demonstrations through an expanded interpretation of concepts such as “public disturbance” or “public indignation”. Bray’s protest is a reminder that disagreement isn’t always comfortable or pleasant, but that’s precisely why it should be defended.
Bray’s case, then, is not about a “loud man with a megaphone”, but about the pulse of a society tired of the consequences of Brexit and looking for ways to make it known, even through noise, irony and protest.
