UK and EU reach tentative agreement ahead of summit
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The news: The European Union and UK have reached a tentative agreement on defence and security, fisheries and youth mobility in eleventh hour talks ahead of a scheduled summit on Monday, according to EU officials.
The context: Should the Union and UK reach agreement on Monday, the move will mark the most significant reset of ties since Brexit.
Sources cited by Bloomberg said that the UK has agreed to extend reciprocal fishing rights until 2038, allowing European fishing crews access to UK waters. The UK also unlocked agreements on food and agricultural standards to remove a majority of border checks with the EU, as well as on energy cooperation.
The agreement on fishing is likely to be criticised by the UK’s conservative opposition, as would any potential deal on youth mobility schemes as the UK Prime Minister faces continued pressure on immigration. EU diplomats said that the two sides would “work towards” a deal on improved youth mobility, signalling extended negotiations, according to the FT. They added that it was a disappointing outcome but acknowledged that Starmer was under huge domestic pressure on migration.
EU government representatives in Brussels received a text of a Common Understanding between the block and the UK, with the document now being approved by all EU member nations.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will meet for the summit on Monday at London’s Lancaster House, when both sides are expected to sign a security and defence partnership.
