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MEPs and an ex UK government minister have joined forces in appealing to both the EU and UK to tackle growing public intolerance of the fall-out from Brexit.
The appeal coincided with a visit, his first as PM, by Sir Keir Starmer to Brussels on Wednesday.
The Labour leader met European commission president Ursula von der Leyen and other EU leaders during a whistle stop visit to the Belgian city.
At a short press conference in the Commission’s Berlaymont HQ, Sir Keir told reporters that he would seek a pragmatic approach to Brexit related issues in his day of talks with EU leaders.
As well as von der Leyen he was due to meet Charles Michel, the EU council president, and Roberta Metsola, the EU parliament president.
Starmer, who did not take questions from journalists, gave little away in a speech lasting just a few minutes but said he wanted to make Brexit work and wished to find ways to boost growth and tackle shared challenges.
After his comments, a former senior UK MEP, Edward McMillan-Scott, was scathing of the impact he says that Brexit has had on different aspects of life in the UK and in Europe too.
The former deputy, who was one of the longest-serving Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, told this website: “All the polling since the unreliable 2016 Brexit referendum shows that the younger UK population is increasingly affected and intolerant of Brexit.
“Day by day the media report different sectors affected, from live music and other artistic cooperation, through travel to the basic needs of life such as food, medicines and technology.”
The former MEP said, “It is essential that the UK should rejoin the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union to remain a civilised country for young alike,” added McMillan-Scott, who has two daughters and three ganddaughters.
Elsewhere, two senior MEPs and a former UK Government Minister have agreed on the need to revive youth mobility between the UK and mainland Europe.
Further comment came from German MEP David McAllister, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, who said, “The mobility of young people is crucial to our future relations. The UK government apparently does not consider re-entering the Erasmus Plus Programme. This is disappointing. The UK’s withdrawal continues to have a negative impact on young people on both sides. With this in mind, I welcome the recent proposal by the European Commission to facilitate one year of travels for young people between the ages of 18 to 30 for a gap year.”
“The scheme consists of three steps removed from free movement, as it would be visa-based, time-limited, and only apply to a particular demographic cohort.”
“I hope that Prime Minister Starmer will be open to such an initiative. Finding a compromise on this issue could not only benefit the freedom of movement of young people, but could add vital momentum, when negotiating other aspects of our future relations.“
Polish centre right MEP Danuta Hubner told this site: “It is a good news that the UK Prime Minister comes to Brussels. It is true that both the Withdrawal Agreement and the TCA keep us busy.”
The former EU commissioner added, “Brexit is clearly not behind us. Citizens rights, including those of our youth, remain the top priority.”
“I used to say that citizens must not pay the cost of Brexit. When it comes both to the rights of EU citizens in UK and of UK nationals in EU, responsible institutions and national authorities should show compassion and generosity.”
“To create conditions for a maximum youth mobility is our duty. I hope the Erasmus plus will return. We have been exploring for some time new bilateral youth mobility schemes and we must allow young people from both EU and UK to benefit from what mobility can offer. I also hope that there will be on both sides the good will to achieve as much as possible from the upcoming review of the TCA to make this good agreement even better.”
“As we know the TCA offers the possibility of adding new elements, if both sides agree. So I keep my fingers crossed for the future of the EU-UK relationship,” said the veteran MEP.
These comments were partly echoed by Denis MacShane, a former Europe Minister under Tony Blair, who said, “There is vague talk of a reset as the British economy reels from the impact of cutting links with the world’s biggest market. The City has lost its attractiveness as the go-to centre for listings in Europe as British passport holders in finance, law, investment, banking, the professions cannot jump on a plane anywhere in Europe and work as if they were at home.’
“Young Brits especially young artists who star at Europe’s innumerable music and other cultural festivals are hardest hit.”
“Brussels can propose some amelioration of the barriers between Britain and Europe but they will need full reciprocity. Even the proposal to allow time limited visas for young people produced a knee-jerk reaction from ministers inaccurately claiming it meant returning to freedom of movement.”
The former Labour MP added, “The question is how does Britain move to a more positive win-win relationship with our natural partners, neighbours and friends across the Channel? So far no-one has an answer. But it is time the question was at least asked.”
