The EU is prepared to lower the number of years adults under the age of 30 can remain in the UK, from four years to two or three, in order to get a youth mobility deal over the line, according to reports.
The concessions could be made in the hope a youth mobility deal becomes more attractive to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, the i reported, who is facing increased pressure to lower migration.
It would be a significant change to a draft European Commission proposal calling for EU citizens aged 18 to 30 to be given the right to travel to the UK for four years, and for young Britons to be able to do the same in Europe.
The document also proposed British universities stop charging Europeans higher international student fees. It is likely to become a concrete offer within two months of negotiations in Brussels, the i reports.
But Mr Starmer would likely find those demands difficult to accept. In his speech at the Labour conference in Liverpool on Tuesday, the prime minister vowed to reduce migration and Britain’s dependency on foreign workers.
The PM set out measures to ensure Home Office visa policies are linked to skills and market needs in a bid to prevent foreign labour being used as an alternative to investing in training for young Britons.
Sir Keir has repeatedly said he has no plans to agree to a youth mobility scheme with the EU, and stressed there would be no return to “free movement” under his leadership.
But EU negotiators believe this position could change, the i reported, with a youth mobility deal a key EU ask in Brexit “reset” negotiations.
Senior Government insiders have also reportedly expressed confidence that the EU will back down on some of its other proposals, such as the demand that European students should be entitled to lower university fees and not have to pay premium international fees.
The UK has been skeptical due to fears the scheme could be perceived as opening the door to higher immigration.
Britain has similar youth mobility deals with a number of Commonwealth countries including Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Post-Brexit, UK secured enhanced deals with Australia and New Zealand, with young Britons up to the age of 35 permitted to live and work in the two countries for up to three years, and vice versa.
