Britain and the European Union have struck a series of wide-ranging agreements aimed at resetting their post-Brexit relationship and boosting cooperation on trade, defence and mobility.
Five years on from Brexit, the United Kingdom and the EU have marked a new chapter in their often-fraught relationship, following Monday's landmark summit in London that unveiled a significant shift from estrangement to engagement.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen hailed a series of new agreements as a “win-win” for both sides – slashing trade red tape, boosting defence cooperation, and paving the way for smoother people-to-people ties.
Describing the moment as “historic,” von der Leyen praised the tone of renewed cooperation, while Starmer declared, “Britain is back on the world stage”.
The upbeat mood reflected not only a thawing of relations but a pragmatic reset aimed at tackling shared challenges – from global security to economic recovery.
Trade and an end to ‘sausage war'
At the heart of the summit was a breakthrough on trade. Under the new deal, many of the cumbersome checks on animal and plant products that have disrupted UK-EU trade since Brexit will be scrapped.
British businesses, long frustrated by paperwork and delays at borders, will now find it easier to export key goods – including sausages, seafood, and even raw burgers – to EU markets.
The move also offers relief to traders in Northern Ireland, where post-Brexit arrangements had led to significant logistical headaches.
Though critics argue that aligning with EU rules edges the UK closer to Brussels' orbit once again, proponents insist the benefits are clear.
“Good for jobs, good for bills and good for our borders,” Starmer said, summing up the government’s stance.
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Youth mobility
In a nod to the younger generation, both sides announced plans to develop a youth mobility scheme, potentially restoring some of the freedom of movement lost after Brexit.
Although the details remain sketchy, officials suggested it could mirror similar UK arrangements with Australia and Canada, allowing limited, temporary stays for work and study.
Also on the cards is a measure that will allow British passport holders to use fast-track e-gates at European airports – a small but symbolic change likely to be welcomed by holidaymakers fed up with long queues since the UK’s departure from the EU.
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Security partnership
Defence featured prominently in the summit’s agenda, with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirming that British troops could participate in EU-led missions in the Western Balkans.
The new pact allows UK forces to join military exercises and even attend select EU defence meetings – moves that underscore Britain's desire to remain a key European security player.
Significantly, British defence firms will gain access to a proposed €150 billion EU fund currently under negotiation, unlocking investment potential and strengthening the UK’s role in collective European defence.
Lammy pointed to continued instability in the Balkans as an example of where British troops can play a complementary role alongside NATO.
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Fishy business, choppy waters
Monday’s deals included a 12-year extension to EU fishing rights in UK waters – a controversial move at home, particularly in Scotland – but one viewed as necessary to facilitate broader gains in trade and diplomacy.
While the fishing industry voiced anger, the deal helped resolve one of the last symbolic holdouts from the Brexit era.
Unsurprisingly, the political fallout was swift. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of turning Britain into a “rule-taker” once more, while the pro-Brexit Reform UK party dismissed the agreements as a betrayal.
But Starmer held firm, insisting that the UK would not rejoin the single market or customs union and would not accept unrestricted freedom of movement.
Lammy, for his part, took a pragmatic tone: “The British people have moved on,” he said. “This is a deal that delivers prosperity and security”.
For all the noise, the summit marks a tangible shift from isolation to engagement – as Starmer put it: “We’re not going back. We’re going forward".
(with newswires)
