Carmichael welcomes food trade boost and youth mobility progress in UK-EU agreement

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed measures in the new UK-EU trade agreement announced today, which will cut red tape on agrifood imports and exports and advance discussions on a youth mobility programme.

The deal includes agreement to reduce checks on food exports to and from the EU, with the vast majority of routine border checks on animal and plant shipments to and from the EU to be dropped. A formal UK-EU defence and security pact has also been established.

The UK and the EU have agreed to co-operate further on a “youth experience scheme”, but this will be subject to further negotiations. The UK is also negotiating to rejoin the Erasmus+ programme, which allows students to study or do an internship abroad.

Mr Carmichael said:

“Notwithstanding my serious concerns about the treatment of the fishing industry – which never should have been part of these negotiations – there is genuine progress in this agreement. It is an important step in beginning to reverse the damage done by the Tories’ botched deal in 2020.

“Farmers and food producers – and indeed consumers – can benefit from the deal on border checks. It is entirely common sense to trade food freely with our nearest neighbours so this ought to be beneficial to everyone.

“It has been rather like pulling teeth but I am glad that ministers are finally moving towards a youth mobility scheme with the EU. It is an absolute no-brainer to allow our young people to live and work across Europe, as they did previously. The government needs to stop slow rolling this scheme and get it done.

“The government must view this not as the end point but as a stepping stone towards a more constructive relationship with the EU, in the national interest. Real ambition here would mean negotiating a bespoke UK-EU customs union to cut red tape, boost trade and rebuild our economy.”