In a new wide-ranging agreement with the European Union, The UK government has secured a deal which aims to grow the economy, with trade, security and defence, and travel at the forefront of discussions. So, how will this new UK-EU agreement benefit holidaymakers?
The new agreement, of which details were unveiled today (Monday 19th May 2025,) will allow UK passport holders to utilise more eGates in Europe, which the government highlights “will end the dreaded queues,” at border control when travelling to Europe.
Pet passports will also be introduced for cats and dogs, meaning an animal health certificate is no longer needed for every trip with much-loved pets.
The UK Government and European Union have also agreed to work together on the development of a ‘Youth Mobility Scheme,’ which means young people could once again be able to travel and work freely within the European Union.
Terms of the Youth Mobility Scheme are still set to be outlined. However, the UK Government has highlighted that the scheme is expected to be “capped and time-limited,” and of a similar framework as previous agreements with Australia and New Zealand.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership commented, “Today’s news marks a major improvement for UK travellers. The tedious wait in border control lines since Brexit has long been a source of irritation for many Brits traveling to the EU, widening the availability of e-gates across Europe will indeed be most welcome. As we approach a busy time of year, this enhanced system should give both holidaymakers and business travellers the opportunity to benefit from a significantly faster, more convenient airport experience, helping them start their travels promptly without the usual holdups.”
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA, has responded to today’s announcement stating that, “The agreements around egates and pet passports will make it easier for travellers, cutting down on queues and pre-holiday admin. There are of course more border changes coming down the line – including the EU Entry/Exit System planned for October 2025. It is vital we continue to see good cooperation between the UK and EU on the introduction of this scheme, to make it as streamlined as possible for UK travellers.”
Commenting on the Youth Mobility Scheme, Tanzer further highlighted, “A big headache travel companies have faced has been the ability to employ UK staff in EU countries to do holiday jobs, such as chalet hosts and tour reps. It has brought a huge amount of red tape and cost, and some businesses have had to change how they offer holidays because they can’t get the right staff. UK national workers in EU-based travel roles have declined by 69% over recent years.”
“So, ABTA strongly welcomes the announcement that the UK and EU are to work on a youth experience scheme, which will be similar to those in place with other countries around the world. The reopening of opportunities for young Brits to work within the EU would be great news for individuals and the UK’s outbound travel industry.”
Lauren Broughton, Head of Public Affairs at UKinbound, stated, “The inclusion of a new reciprocal EU/UK youth experience scheme is a very welcome step forward that will benefit generations of young British and European citizens. “
