By Caoimhe Clements
On 13 and 14 June 2025, Strasbourg, home to the European Parliament, became the centre of renewed European dialogue. While thousands of young people gathered for the European Youth Event (EYE) 2025 to debate the future of Europe, an equally significant discussion unfolded nearby. On the morning of the 13th June, UK and EU officials met for a pivotal session entitled ‘EU-UK Youth Relations: Which Way Forward?’, marking a major step in restoring post-Brexit ties.
The timing and setting were no coincidence. As young Europeans discussed democracy, sustainability, and mobility, diplomats behind closed doors worked to turn those aspirations into policy, chiefly through a new EU-UK youth mobility scheme. It was the clearest sign yet that a new chapter in EU-UK relations is taking shape, one based on shared opportunity and practical cooperation.
From London to Strasbourg: from Rhetoric to Policy
This summit followed commitments made at the May 2025 EU-UK leaders’ meeting in London, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to “reset” relations. The Strasbourg panel on 13 June was the first concrete step in delivering that promise.
The agenda was focused yet ambitious:
- Launching a new youth mobility scheme
- Strengthening energy and climate cooperation
- Improving Northern Ireland trade mechanisms
- Enhancing civil security coordination
For young attendees at EYE 2025, many of whom have felt cut off from EU opportunities since Brexit, the developments were particularly meaningful.
Erasmus Returns in Spirit: A New Youth Mobility Scheme
Among the most anticipated outcomes was the announcement of an EU-UK youth mobility scheme, informally dubbed ‘Erasmus+ NextGen’. Since the UK left Erasmus+ in 2020, students and youth workers have faced steep barriers to studying or volunteering abroad.
The new framework aims to rebuild those lost links through:
- University exchanges of up to 12 months
- Short-term volunteering and youth worker mobility programmes
- Mutual recognition of qualifications
- Grants for disadvantaged youth to ensure inclusivity
Although technically separate from Erasmus+, the new framework will closely mirror its objectives. Notably, the UK has agreed to co-fund and co-manage the initiative, marking a significant policy shift. A pilot phase will launch in early 2026, with annual reviews in place to track progress. The long-term goal is a scalable and sustainable programme – insulated from political changes.
A Strategic Reconnection for the UK
For the UK, the summit represents more than goodwill – it is a strategic recalibration.
First, it is a generational investment. Restoring academic and cultural mobility is a clear win for young Britons, 75% of whom voted to remain in the EU. The scheme acknowledges that while Brexit is politically settled, educational and social ties remain vital.
Second, it is economically savvy. UK universities will benefit from increased student exchange, while businesses gain from a better-skilled and globally minded workforce.
Third, it marks a diplomatic re-entry. Structured cooperation on youth, climate, and civil protection shows that the UK can still lead on European issues when it engages constructively.
Finally, it sends a clear message: British youth are not shut out of Europe. The mobility framework offers tangible pathways to re-engage with the continent and softens the legacy of Brexit.
Youth Voices at the Forefront
While the summit took place in private, EYE 2025 buzzed with energy. More than 10,000 young people participated in debates, simulations, and discussions covering a range of topics, from AI to democratic resilience. The mobility scheme announcement was met with cheers, especially from groups like Young European Movement.
A highlight for many was a roundtable hosted by the European Parliament Liaison Office in the UK. Youth activists engaged directly with MEP Sandro Gozi, chair of the delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly.
“It was really inspiring to meet an MEP who truly understands how the egregious decision of the UK to leave the EU has impacted upon the identity, prospects and opportunities of British youth”, said Madeleina Kay, a Young European Movement member. “During the intimate discussion between MEP Sandro Gozi and young British participants, we had the opportunity to ask him pertinent questions about the realistic pathway for the UK to rejoin the EU.”
A Meaningful European Future for Young Britons
The roundtable’s themes echoed throughout the panel session: How do young people assess the current EU-UK relationship? Are their voices truly being heard? And what are the realistic proposals to rebuild trust and cooperation?
Speakers such as Cara McLaughlin from the Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe, and Maurizio Cuttin of the British Youth Council, offered sharp insights. Cuttin, known for co-authoring the 2023 European economic and social committee report on EU-UK youth engagement, emphasised that structures like the new mobility scheme can offer British youth a meaningful European future.
Moderated by Annette Gerlach, veteran Arte Journal journalist and bilingual host of EU cultural debates, the panel maintained a balance between policy insight and public engagement.
More Than Just Mobility
Beyond youth exchanges, the summit produced progress in three other areas:
1. Energy and climate cooperation: a new EU-UK clean energy forum will be launched in October 2025 to invest in hydrogen, cross-border infrastructure, and climate adaptation.
2. Northern Ireland trade framework: updates to the Windsor framework will ease checks for small businesses and improve transparency in customs procedures.
3. Security and civil protection: the UK and EU agreed to conduct joint training exercises, cyber-defence simulations, and coordinate emergency response strategies.
These developments highlight a growing recognition that challenges such as climate change and geopolitical instability require shared solutions.
What Happens Next?
The EU-UK youth mobility framework will launch in pilot form in January 2026, with up to 15,000 participants in the first year. Application portals will open in late 2025, with processes aligned with Erasmus+ standards. If successful, the scheme could evolve into a permanent bilateral or even multilateral programme.
Meanwhile, technical follow-up meetings on trade, energy, and youth cooperation are scheduled for autumn 2025, helping sustain the momentum beyond Strasbourg.
The 13th June summit at EYE 2025 may not have dominated headlines like the original Brexit talks, but its implications may be just as far-reaching. It marked the start of a new kind of EU-UK relationship: one grounded in shared values, generational inclusion, and practical cooperation.
For the UK, it is a long-awaited pivot from isolation to engagement. And for the youth on both sides, it is proof that their voices can influence policy and rebuild bridges that were once burned. In Strasbourg, some of those bridges began to take shape.
About the Author
Caoimhe Clements is a freelance journalist based in Belfast, specialising in gender-based violence, EU affairs, and social justice. She holds a master’s in journalism and has contributed to EU-funded projects including Connects UK. In 2025, she joined the communications team for Young European Movement and attended the European Youth Event 2025 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Her work has been featured in both local and national outlets, including the Irish Independent. Through accessible, policy-focused storytelling, she is committed to amplifying under-represented voices and making complex issues resonate with broad, diverse audiences.