EU leaders are set to demand Keir Starmer backs a youth mobility scheme giving young people the temporary right to live in the UK when the Prime Minister joins them for dinner on Monday.
Sir Keir hopes to begin talks about a UK-EU security pact at an informal meeting with all 27 EU leaders in Brussels next week, in advance of a formal summit planned for spring.
But EU officials have warned that agreement on security depends on the UK signing up to a proposed scheme giving UK and EU citizens aged between 18 and 30 the right to live and work in any of the countries involved for up to four years.
Brussels is also expected to demand a guarantee that EU fisherman will not be restricted from UK waters – and is unwilling to consider any British proposals unless its demands are met.
One official told the Financial Times: “Everything is now seen as a quid pro quo”.
Miguel Berger, Germany’s ambassador to the UK, has also warned that agreeing to the youth mobility scheme would be “an important element” of any new agreement.
The Government hopes to sign what it calls “an ambitious and broad-ranging UK-EU Security Pact” prompted Russia’s war against Ukraine and US President Donald Trump’s demands that Europe take more responsibility for its own security in return for American support.
It is set to involve coordination on defence capability, funding and training and Ministers say it would complement the UK’s commitment to NATO.
The Government has insisted there will be no return to freedom of movement and says there are “no plans” for a youth mobility scheme. Questioned in Parliament, Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “With regard to a youth mobility scheme, I am not going to give a running commentary. What I will say is that we will, of course, always act in the UK’s national interest and that we will not go back to freedom of movement.”
However the idea is backed by the Labour Movement for Europe, which includes 48 MPs and drew up a draft motion for constituency Labour parties supporting the policy. The group’s members include trade minister Douglas Alexander and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
Monday’s dinner at the prestigious Palais d’Egmont will be the first time Sir Keir has met all 27 EU leaders together. They will hold private talks and a lunch with Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte before the UK Prime Minister joins them in the evening.
