Challenged on the view that European capitals have been less enthusiastic than Britain at the prospect of a post-Brexit rapprochement with the EU, Thomas-Symonds insisted the timetable and ambitions remained firm. “The bill will introduce the mechanism of alignment — and I would expect that to be completed by the end of 2026 and to have completed its parliamentary passage by then,” he said.
‘Hardball’
His bullish comments follow a bruising setback to talks after EU officials insisted European students studying at U.K. universities should pay “home” fees of about £9,500 a year in England and Wales as part of any youth mobility scheme arrangements, rather than the much higher international rate paid to universities which host them.
The sudden demand, which U.K officials said was not mentioned in the original framework agreement, has unleashed panic in Britain’s university sector, where it is projected to cost higher education institutions up to £140 million a year.
Dismissing the demands as out of scope for any agreement between London and Brussels, Thomas-Symonds suggested that the fees stand-off would not impede a deal in the end, quipping:“I certainly play hardball — and Maroš (also) plays hardball in the negotiations.”
The youth mobility scheme, however, has proved persistently hard to square, as the U.K. insists on an absolute cap on numbers of young people allowed to live, study, and work in the country under the plan. The European side has countered with proposals to allow Britain to impose a temporarily halt if numbers rise beyond an agreed level.
Thomas-Symonds did not rule out some compromise on the mechanism, saying, “We are very clear about the need for a limit (to numbers), and that is the basis upon which we are negotiating,” but dismissed claims that the talks were stalling. “Some of these stories are not indicative of how well we’ve been progressing … It is a situation where both sides can win, whether it’s from security and defense and in terms of energy, particularly energy at the moment.”