The UK and the EU will announce an agreement to deepen their partnership in a way that is “in the UK's national interest“.
This promise was made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of the first UK-EU summit scheduled for May 19 in London.
“First India, then the United States“, said Starmer, referring to the recently announced trade agreements.
“Tomorrow we will take another step forward, which will bring even greater benefits to the UK as a result of a strengthened partnership with the EU. "It will be good for our jobs, good for our utility bills and good for our borders," the prime minister said.
The Labour government of Keir Starmer, which came to power in July 2024, has set itself the goal of achieving a "zero-sum" in relations with the European Union after Brexit.
The Times newspaper notes that the agreements with the EU can be divided into three groups. In the first, fundamental agreements have already been reached, and the details will be finalized later. According to the publication, this includes a pact for cooperation in the field of defense and security, the unification of the British and European emissions trading systems and allowing the British to use automated border checkpoints in EU countries.
The second group contains issues on which there are only preliminary agreements and negotiations must continue. The newspaper includes here a reduction in checks on goods subject to sanitary and phytosanitary safety measures for exports, liberalisation of the electricity market and the restoration of the youth mobility scheme for Europeans, which was interrupted after Brexit.
In the third group “The Times“ puts the topics that the parties are only ready to discuss. These include issues related to the mutual recognition of professional qualifications and the simplification of the visa system for musicians and artists.