Senior academics in Scotland have welcomed Germany's push for a EU-UK youth mobility scheme.
Professor Anton Muscatelli, principal and vice chancellor of Glasgow University this morning praised the German ambassador to the UK Miguel Berger for making the case for a new programme which would see young people from Briton be able to live, work or study for a short people in any EU country, and EU young people able to work, study or live in the UK for a temporary period.
Mr Berger was speaking on BBC Radio Four's Today programme following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's visit to Berlin yesterday where he held talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
"It was very good to hear the German Ambassador to the UK support the case for an EU-UK youth mobility programme," Professor Muscatelli wrote on X.
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"It’s a win-win for both parties and it has nothing to do with freedom of movement. It will reinforce cultural and education bonds at a crucial time."
His colleague Peter Jackson, professor of global security, also welcomed Mr Berger's comments.
"It is time for the governing class in the UK to do something for young people. Young people did not vote for Brexit, the vast majority under 30 years old did not have a voice in the referendum that made their country poorer and severely limited their prospects for the future," he wrote on X.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Berger said a UK agreement with the EU on youth mobility "should be in the British interest".
"There are many misunderstandings about what youth mobility really means. It is not freedom of movement, it has nothing to do with migration.
"It means that young people, who are really those who have most lost because of Brexit, that they have the possibility to come to the European Union, to come to the United Kingdom, for a limited amount of time, and then they will leave.
"So, it's enhancing the possibilities for young people. That's what we want. And it's not only Germany, I can tell you all the 27 in the European Union want to enhance that."
The Prime Minister does not currently back a EU UK youth mobility scheme as he is concerned it opens up a model of free movement, which Labour, which supports Brexit, does not want.
However, Mr Berger suggested that if the PM does not back a youth mobility scheme Britain won't get the broader deal - including a veterinary agreement - it wants with the EU.
He was pressed what the UK would get in return for backing a new deal with the EU.
Mr Berger replied: "Youth mobility should also be in the British interest. Young people from this country might want to live for a year in Berlin or in Madrid or in Paris, and the youth mobility scheme would open that possibility.
"What can we gain? I think we all could gain, for example, by a veterinary agreement, which would reduce prices in the supermarket."
A Scottish Government spokesman welcomed the meeting between the PM and German Chancellor saying he hoped it could further the development of North Sea infrastructure.
“Scotland has a strong relationship with Germany and we are committed to further developing cultural, economic and political links," he said.
“We welcome the role that a new UK-Germany treaty could play in furthering those aims. Particularly in relation to the development of key North Sea infrastructure that can support a net zero transition, including the development of pipelines for green hydrogen export from the UK and Scotland to Germany.
“We hope that this renewed focus on European relationships heralds a reset in the UK’s relations with the EU.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is in France today and arrived at the Elysee Palace this morning for his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
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