EU set to make it easier for UK professionals to work in the bloc

Brussels has proposed to make it easier for UK professionals to work in the EU through recognition of their qualifications, in a move that would accede to a key demand by London and help underpin a post-Brexit reset of relations between the two sides.

The European Commission will propose “legislation to establish common rules for the recognition and validation of qualifications and skills of third country nationals” next year, according to a draft document by the EU executive arm obtained by the Financial Times.

The plan is contained in a new EU single market strategy due to be published this month and comes as the two sides thrash out how to improve relations ahead of a summit on May 19.

British professionals have pushed since Brexit for the ability to work in the EU and UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has raised the matter in talks with her counterparts in the bloc.

UK lawyers, bankers, engineers and other skilled workers will be among those hoping to benefit from the European Commission’s proposal for EU recognition of British professional qualifications. They would still need to secure visas from the EU member states they want to work in.

The draft EU single market strategy document, drawn up by French internal market commissioner Stéphane Séjourné, could change before publication — and any legislation requires the approval of a weighted majority of the bloc’s member states and the European parliament.  

Reeves has identified dismantling trade barriers thrown up after the UK left the EU in 2020 as a key priority to boost Britain’s sluggish economic growth.

Reeves said last month the UK’s trading relationship with Europe was “arguably even more important” than that with the US.

“It is so important that we rebuild those trading relationships with our nearest neighbours in Europe, and we’re going to do that in a way that is good for British jobs and British consumers,” she said.

Sir Keir Starmer’s government is currently in talks with Donald Trump’s administration about a UK-US trade deal that could minimise American tariffs on British exports.

At the UK-EU summit in London later this month, Starmer is expected to sign a defence and security pact with the bloc’s leaders, and the two sides are also due to adopt a declaration on shared values and foreign policy goals. 

The UK and the EU are also set to approve accelerated talks to improve the economic relationship.

This could lead to a veterinary deal — another key demand by Starmer’s government — that would reduce EU checks on British agricultural products exported to the bloc, such as beef and cheese.

Maroš Šefčovič, the EU trade commissioner responsible for UK relations, said on Monday “further work” was needed to secure a veterinary agreement.

The EU wants to tie the length of such a deal to how long the UK agrees to preserve the bloc’s access to British fishing waters, which would otherwise end in June next year. 

And it is keen on a pact to allow EU nationals aged under 30 to live and work in the UK for up to three years, and vice versa.

But London is wary of adding more immigrants to the UK’s official figures, even temporarily.

The Commission said it did not comment on “leaked documents”.