Key facts
- UK-EU youth mobility scheme deadline may be deferred by six months.
- UK insists on international tuition fees for EU students.
- UK proposes an annual cap of 50,000 YES visas.
- Some EU states want a cap of up to 500,000 or no cap.
- UK requires YES visa holders to pay a £1,035 NHS surcharge.
A deadline for a youth mobility scheme between the EU and the UK could be deferred by six months to ensure a successful summit on November 20, diplomats have said. EU ambassadors heard on Wednesday that the UK's insistence on international tuition fees, quotas, and an NHS surcharge for EU students has fueled fears the summit could fail. The UK is also pushing for an annual cap of about 50,000 YES visas, while some EU member states desire a cap of up to 500,000 or no cap at all. The UK requires YES visa holders to pay a £1,035 NHS surcharge, though a 25% discount has been suggested. While a food and drink trade deal and emissions trading system negotiations are nearing completion, the youth mobility scheme remains deadlocked. Talks on reintegration into the EU's energy market will continue after the summit. A European Commission proposal suggests removing tuition fees from the current package and negotiating a solution by May 2027.