The United Kingdom and the European Union have announced a "win-win" deal at the first post-Brexit UK-EU summit in London on Monday. They announced a wide-ranging agreement on food, fishing, defence and passport checks.
Talks to reach the deal took place over the weekend ahead of a key summit in London hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer with EU leaders on Monday. The agreement aims to reset the UK's relationship with the EU five years after Brexit.
"It is time to look forward. To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people," said Starmer – adding that the deal is "good for jobs, good for bills, and good for our borders."
"We are ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people’s lives here at home," he said. "So that is what this deal is all about – facing out into the world once again, in the great tradition of this nation. Building the relationships we choose, with the partners we choose, and closing deals in the national interest."
Fishing, e-Gates and defence
The outstanding issues on fishing rights – which was one of the main sticking points – were solved late on Sunday night. The new deal keeps the current status quo and gives EU boats continued access to UK waters for the next 12 years, until 2038 – considerably longer than most expected.
Soon, UK tourists will be able to use the e-Gates (automated passport control) when travelling around the EU – ending "the dreaded queues at border control," said Starmer.
He added that, for many people, the e-Gates will "be the first discernible difference" after the post-Brexit deal, calling on all EU Member States to co-operate without delay.
Britain's Prime Keir Starmer. Credit: Julian Simmonds/Pool/AFP/Belga
Additionally, the UK and EU will also collaborate on a "youth experience scheme." This could mean the UK's young people (up until the age of 30) might be able to travel and work freely within the EU again, and vice versa. The scheme would be "capped and time-limited" and would be similar to ones that the UK already has with countries like Australia and New Zealand.
In return, the UK will get reduced checks on food and drink traded with the EU, making it easier for British products (such as burgers and sausages) to be sold in the EU. The new agreement will also reduce "red tape" for businesses and help cut lorry queues at the border.
The new UK-EU deal will also include the announcement of a new security and defence partnership. The UK Government said that this will "pave the way" for the UK defence industry to participate in the EU's proposed new £150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence fund.
From now on, the UK and the EU will hold a summit every year.
'Summit of surrender'
However, the deal has immediately drawn criticism from inside the UK, with the British opposition being unapologetic about the summit. The Conservatives called this "the summit of surrender."
After the announcement, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was "gobsmacked" by the series of deals that Starmer signed. She called the deal a "sell-out on fishing" and said that he had taken the UK "back to square one." Badenoch said the UK "should be using opportunities of leaving the EU and not taking steps back."
Badenoch did welcome news on e-Gates access in European countries and pet passports, but said she has concerns about what the UK has given away in concessions.
