Monday 19 / May / 2025
London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting the leadership of the European Union (EU) at a summit in London on Monday, where several agreements calling for deepening defence and trade ties are expected to be signed.
EU officials speaking off the record to news agencies ahead of the summit said the bloc's member states are expected to greenlight a "common understanding" with the UK covering issues such as trade, fishing and youth mobility. Also on the table are a security and defence partnership and a statement of EU-UK solidarity.
Although Monday's agreements are not done deals, Starmer sees them as starting points for further cooperation.
What does the new EU-UK cooperation mean?
Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer has pushed for what he calls a "reset" of ties with the EU.
Monday's summit, hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas, is the first of its kind in what the UK leader hopes will be annual summits working towards more formal cross-channel integration.
Since the UK formally left the EU in 2020 after the Brexit referendum in 2016, ties have mostly been governed under a "Trade and Cooperation Agreement" (TCA) negotiated by former conservative PM Boris Johnson and signed in December 2020.
Starmer, who had opposed Brexit from the center-left Labour party, has said ties can be improved to boost the UK economy and bolster security. The TCA is up for review in 2026.
Since Brexit, common challenges facing the UK and EU include Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and a more isolationist and tariff-ready US policy under President Donald Trump.
What are sticking points?
Fishing rights and youth mobility have been sticking points in negotiations.
Diplomats speaking with news agencies said an tentative agreement calls for EU fishermen to have access to British waters for 12 years in exchange for the EU easing red tape on food imports from the UK.
On youth mobility, Reuters news agency reported that wording on an agreement is set to leave the door open for more negotiation.
A pre-print seen by Reuters says the UK and EU "should work towards a balanced youth experience scheme on terms to be mutually agreed."
UK negotiators are concerned an agreement on youth mobility could open the door to the return of freedom of movement between the EU and UK.
Starmer's move towards more integration with the EU has drawn criticism from conservatives and the far-right.
In its election manifesto last year, Labour promised that it wouldn't rejoin the EU's single market and customs union, and free movement of people and goods.
In August 2024, Starmer said revamping agreements with the EU "does not mean reversing Brexit or re-entering the single market or the customs union."
