Germany looking at ditching hated Brexit red tape with fresh overhaul to passport rules

Germany is looking to ditch post-Brexit red tape in order to make it easier for young Britons to visit.

German ambassador Miguel Berger has told the UK Government it wants to slash bureaucracy to counter a massive drop in the number of exchange students visiting both the UK and Germany in recent years.

And the proposal is also understood to have won the backing of celebrities including a Great British Bake-Off finalist.

Campaigners are keen for more young Britons to study German as one of their GCSEs.

Last summer, just 34,700 students sat a German GCSE, down massively from the 125,600 who did so in 2003.

Similarly, the number studying A Level German – 2,358 – is barely a third of what it was 20 years ago – 6,950

With this in mind, Mr Berger said his country was ready to think go the extra mile to make visits to Germany more attractive.

He told The Times: “We have some hurdles — children need passports, before Brexit that was not the case. We have offered to the British government to get rid of passports and visa requirements.

“School exchanges would definitely incentivise language learning and make it as easy as possible to experience the other country and culture.”

Mr Berger continued: “For those who don’t travel so often, not having a passport is an obstacle. We have seen the number of youth and school exchanges dropping by around 75 per cent in the last four years.”

Despite the fact that English is used throughout the world, he also emphasised the importance of learning a foreign language.

He explained: “Many people think it’s not ­necessary because, in the rest of the world, people speak English.

“But learning a language goes well beyond using words abroad – you have a totally ­different access to a ­foreign culture and understanding.

“To get a real understanding of another country ­requires you to learn the language.”

Meanwhile Andrea Pfeil, the deputy director of London’s Goethe-Institut, voiced her concern that there is less time being devoted to foreign languages in the UK.

She said: “Teachers often feel they need to teach structure and grammar but our approach is to make sure that you have that communicative success. So if I ask you for a cup of coffee it doesn’t matter if I have a couple of grammar mistakes in there.

“That’s where the focus should be. It’s good for students if they have the feeling they can actually say something, even if there are mistakes.”

Jurgen Krauss, who moved to the UK in 2003 and who was one of the stars of the 2021 series of the popular Channel 4 cookery programme, is being lined up to back the drive to persuade more people to study German.

Meanwhile Andrea Pfeil, the deputy director of London’s Goethe-Institut, voiced her concern that there is less time being devoted to foreign languages in the UK.