\n<\/p>\n
Negotiations for a deal between the UK and EU are still ongoing hours before the prime minister hosts a UK-EU summit on Monday.<\/p>\n
Sir Keir Starmer will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the second time in four days as he aims to strike a deal with the EU on a range of issues.<\/p>\n
This could include a youth mobility scheme, allowing UK passport holders to use EU airport e-gates, and announcements on trade, security, and fishing rights.<\/p>\n
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have already described the deal as a “surrender” despite the contents not being known. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
As the talks continue into the night, the BBC understands, there is no deadline for when they will conclude.<\/p>\n
Negotiations for the UK are being led by the minister for UK-EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, who told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg<\/a> that he was driven by “ruthless pragmatism” and was focused on jobs, lower household bills, and stronger borders.<\/p>\n But he declined to give specific details of any deal, saying: “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”<\/p>\n Announcements around trade and security have been expected to include British access to a 150 billion euro (\u00a3125 billion) EU defence fund, which could be a boost for UK defence companies.<\/p>\n Fishing could also be part of a deal, with a post-Brexit deal on fishing rights set to expire at the end of June 2026.<\/p>\n Reports have circulated that a youth mobility scheme with the EU could be set up<\/a> – something that Sir Keir told the Times on Saturday<\/a> would be a “reciprocal” arrangement in which young people would be able to move abroad for up to two years.<\/p>\n No specific details about the ages of those who could be eligible and whether there would be a cap on numbers were given, and it has received mixed responses from opposition parties.<\/p>\n Badenoch described the possible scheme as “free movement through the back door” while Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice said earlier this week that such a scheme would be “the thin end” of EU free movement.<\/p>\n The Liberal Democrats have backed the idea of a “capped mobility scheme”, although the party’s Europe spokesperson James MacCleary has accused the government of “dragging their heels when it comes to properly negotiating on the issue”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n