2025 marks a hopeful moment for the UK-EU relationship. The election of a Labour Government last year brought with it a fresh and renewed energy to reset relations.
Eight years on from the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, the people I represent continue to write to me detailing the difficulties they face as a result. My constituency Battersea is an area of South West London with a vibrant multicultural spirit and entrepreneurial mindset, and 15% of its residents were born in EU countries. Many have seen a fall in living standards, decreasing profits, visa problems and damaging delays to business.
While many of these issues remain, the global context in which we find ourselves has changed dramatically. We now face the existential tests of an imperially aggressive Russia, an unreliable United States and the continued rise of far-right parties across Europe.
Now more than ever we need a more productive European relationship not just to manage post-Brexit realities but to secure peace and democratic values. It is imperative that we do this by creating a broader common platform around the fundamentals that unite us.
The UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA), which I co-chair, holds its plenary in Brussels this week. This will be a crucial opportunity to put forward our commitment to resetting relations.
There is an obvious need for closer coordination of foreign, security and defence policies in light of the Russian war in Ukraine. Strategic EU-UK consultations on the war have been essential to this but we should widen this cooperation with regular dialogues on a greater range of threats.
Similarly, the joint effort we now have on imposing Russian sanctions has been much welcome. Extending sanctions to other conflicts and threats where needed would also be welcome, putting the international rule of law at the heart of cooperation.
It is not just through defence, however, that we will create the stronger coordination we need. A central part of UK-EU common understanding is forged through personal connections and cultural learnings, and UK leaving the EU has taken a great toll on this.
Young people and those in the touring arts are now unable to benefit from the opportunities once readily available to them. We are all culturally poorer as a result and I have heard many regrets for young people’s loss of access in areas such as youth, cultural, educational, research, training and employment. To combat this, a youth opportunities scheme would give young people in the UK and EU a way to experience new cultures and flourish from broader opportunities.
Some businesses in Battersea have been bruised by the impact Brexit has had on trade and economic ties. Indeed, just this month one shop is set to close due to higher import costs after being a local trader for 30 years.
Closer alignment in goods would result in roughly equal economic gains in exports for both the UK and EU. Reducing trade barriers will allow our small businesses to thrive, boosting our communities too.
We must also recommit to greater cooperation on energy policies, which will not only increase energy autonomy and decrease reliance on external sources but also propel forward the green transition for all. Net Zero remains an urgent priority and necessity for future progress.
The UK and EU are like-minded democratic partners that share democratic values and support for the rules-based international order and human rights.
This is a fact irrespective of Brexit but is of extraordinary importance in this present moment. Greater collaboration on security, defence, youth opportunities and energy will be essential to uphold these fundamental shared values and secure peace and prosperity.
To meet the global tests of today, we must work collectively to create a future defined by what we have in common rather than that which divides us.
