Guernsey could benefit from youth mobility scheme

Guernsey could benefit from a youth mobility scheme under a new UK government deal with the EU.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said as part of a "reset" with the EU post-Brexit there could be a "reciprocal" arrangement in which young people would be able to move abroad for up to two years.

In her first speech to the States, President of Policy and Resources Lindsay de Sausmarez said Guernsey officials had been speaking with UK counterparts.

As part of the new UK-EU relationship de Sausmarez said: "This could give young people more opportunities to experience living and working in Europe for a time."

Prior to Brexit, young people in the Bailiwick of Guernsey had the right to travel and study freely, without a visa, in the rest of Europe and vice versa under an arrangement called Protocol 3.

A new deal could see a return to a similar state of affairs.

De Sausmarez told deputies any new arrangement would not mean any change to fishing rights, as those are settled.

However she said there could be changes to border controls for goods.

"It could provide a good opportunity to diversify our imports and bring in more goods from France," she said.

"In doing so it could increase our food security, reduce our carbon footprint, and improve affordability as well."

She went on to explain where she thought the other advantages of the new UK-EU relationship may fall.

"We could see benefits. Our young people could access the proposed youth mobility scheme, the Erasmus scheme could also give our young people opportunities in training and learning," she added.

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