FIFTEEN years ago, as a student at the University of Limoges, I found myself at a crossroads. It was my third year at university, and I was starting to feel the pressure of deciding what would come next.

Then, an opportunity arose that changed everything: Erasmus. Thanks to this EU programme, I was able to spend my fourth year at the University of Edinburgh.

My time in Edinburgh wasn’t just about perfecting my English, exploring a new city, and enjoying a vibrant student life (though it was all of that); it was also about growing up, finding independence, and discovering my true passion for journalism.

It was an experience that shaped me in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the time. And it’s an experience that every young person should have the chance to pursue.

More than just the loss of the Erasmus programme, Brexit also took away the freedom of movement that allowed me to build a life in Scotland after my studies. When the Brexit vote happened in 2016, I realised just how precious that freedom was.

After Erasmus, I knew I wanted to live and work in Scotland, but the vote to leave the EU made me act more quickly. I knew that once freedom of movement was gone, the ability to move to the UK and establish myself here would become much more difficult, if not impossible.

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Thanks to freedom of movement, I was able to move to Scotland without bureaucratic hurdles. I started to build a career that, in my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined. I had opportunities, met people, and experienced life in ways I never would have had I stayed in France.

And even more importantly, my child was born here, in a country that I had the freedom to choose as my home, thanks to the EU’s freedom of movement. And no matter where life takes me now, Scotland will always be a part of me. That’s the legacy of freedom of movement – not just for me, but for so many others who have made their homes and lives across Europe.

Now, as I observe the current political landscape in the UK, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of frustration at how much has changed in the past decade.

The opportunities I had – the ease of moving between countries, the chance to study abroad without financial burden – are slipping away from today’s young people, particularly those in the UK. And the worst part is that it doesn’t have to be this way.

Earlier this year, the European Commission proposed a youth mobility scheme that could restore some of these lost opportunities.

The scheme would allow 18 to 30-year-olds to live, work, study, or volunteer in European Union countries for up to four years.

While it’s not a return to the full freedom of movement that existed before Brexit, it’s a step in the right direction – one that could open doors for a generation that has been cut off from the rest of Europe.

But instead of embracing this chance to give young people new opportunities, Labour have refused to support the scheme. Their reasoning? I suppose it’s a fear of being seen as too pro-European, as if any co-operation with the EU would be a betrayal of the Brexit vote.

The reality is that the proposal on the table isn’t about reversing Brexit – if only! – or undermining the will of the people. The youth mobility scheme, while more limited than the freedom of movement we once enjoyed, would at least restore some of the opportunities that have been taken away.

It would allow young Brits to study at European universities, work in European cities, and volunteer in European communities.

It’s a chance to experience different cultures, languages, and ways of life – something that’s incredibly important in today’s increasingly interconnected world.

By refusing to support it, Labour are choosing to ignore the needs and aspirations of a generation.

The party seems to believe that being seen as too close to Europe will cost them votes, but this fear, in my opinion, is rooted in an outdated view of the UK electorate.

The public mood has shifted since the Brexit referendum. Many people who once supported Brexit are now disillusioned with the outcome. They’re beginning to see the loss of opportunities for what it is – a step backwards, not forwards.

Recent polls show that there is broad support for a youth mobility scheme. A survey by More in Common found that 58% of people support such a scheme, while only 10% oppose it. Even supporters of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, who might be expected to oppose closer ties with Europe, are on board with the idea.

So why is Labour so afraid? What are they scared of? The likes of Mark François and Priti Patel? Someone needs to remind the party that they won a landslide number of seats at the elections last month.

They don’t have to keep up any pretences or tiptoe around the issue of Europe anymore. They’re in a position where they can actually get things done. They can move beyond the post-Brexit paranoia and start thinking about what’s genuinely best for the country – especially its young people.

Instead of being fearties and worrying about the ghosts of Brexit, they could just get on with it and support a scheme that has so much potential to do good.

This isn’t the 2016 referendum all over again. The public isn’t clamouring for more Brexit-style politics; they’re looking for solutions, for opportunities, for ways to improve their lives and the lives of their children.

The youth mobility scheme could be one of those solutions. It doesn’t undo all the damage that Brexit has caused. But it’s a start. It’s a way to give young people something back – a way to show them that their future isn’t limited.

It’s a chance to prove that, despite the mess of Brexit, this country can still find ways to co-operate with its European neighbours. In the end, this isn’t just about politics; it’s about people. Labour’s job should be to expand opportunities, not to shrink them.

By clinging to outdated fears and refusing to engage with Europe in a more meaningful way, they’re doing the opposite.

And in doing so, they’re not just letting down young people – they’re letting down the whole country.

Why would they refuse to provide young people with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly globalised world?

Labour need to recognise that being anti-European is no longer a winning strategy. The public mood has changed, and so should Labour. Supporting the youth mobility scheme would be a good place to start. And in today’s climate, something positive for young people is exactly what we need.

Labour could show that they are serious about creating opportunities for the next generation.

They could demonstrate that they are ready to move beyond the stale debates of Brexit and focus on building a future that works for everyone, especially the young people who will inherit it.

In the end, it’s the right thing to do. And it’s high time Labour recognised that.