(Alamy)
4 min read
Keir Starmer has said the new UK deal with the European Union will deliver on what “the British people voted for” at the general election, after the two sides on Monday announced an agreement covering food, defence and students.
On Monday, the Prime Minister hosted a press conference in Westminster with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU Commission, and Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council.
The three leaders confirmed the signing of a new relationship between the UK and its closest trading partner, which Starmer said showed that Britain was back on the “world stage”.
“In the last two weeks alone, we have delivered trade deals with India and the US, and that means jobs saved, jobs created, more growth,” the PM said.
He added that the deal was a “win-win” and would lead to lower prices in supermarkets and more money in the pockets of British people.
“It gives us unprecedented access to the EU market, the best of any country outside of the EU, while sticking to the red lines in our manifesto about not rejoining the single market, the Customs Union and no return to freedom of movement,” Starmer said.
The Prime Minister said it was time to “look forward” and move past the old Brexit debates which dominated British politics in the years following the in-out referendum in 2016.
“It’s time to move on from the stale old debates and political fights to focus on delivering common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people.
“We’re ready to work with all our partners, wherever it means we can improve people’s lives here at home, and that’s what this deal is all about, facing out to the world once again.”
Here is what has been agreed by London and Brussels.
Fewer border checks
The UK and EU have agreed to reduce what are known as Sanitary and Phytosanitary checks on products crossing the border.
This means UK businesses exporting products to the continent, like food, will face fewer checks than they do currently.
Starmer said this will mean lower food prices, greater availability in supermarkets, and more disposable income for consumers.
This part of the deal will also mean fewer checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland under post-Brexit arrangements for the region.
However, this new agreement is expected to involve the oversight of the European Court of Justice, which will anger avid Brexiteers.
Airports
As part of the deal announced on Monday, UK citizens will be able to use e-Gates when travelling to EU countries. At the moment, anyone using an airport on the continent has to queue up as a person from a third country. This should reduce waiting times for passengers at European airports.
Fisheries
The EU fishing industry has been given ‘full, reciprocal” access to British waters until 2038.
This has proven to be perhaps the most contentious element of the deal, with Reform UK and the Conservatives accusing the government of selling out the UK industry.
Despite making up a very small part of the British economy, fishing has been a totemic issue since the Brexit referendum.
Before leaving the EU, the Commons Fisheries Policy allowed EU fishing trawlers access to UK waters more than 12 nautical miles from the coast.
The Brexit deal negotiated by the Tory government led by Boris Johnson reduced the annual quota of fish which could be caught by EU fishermen in UK waters by 25 per cent, before expiring in 2026. In a concession to the EU, Starmer has agreed to postpone this until 2038.
Youth mobility
The UK and EU have confirmed their plan to agree a new “youth experience scheme”, making it easier for young people to travel, study and work in each other’s territories.
Starmer confirmed in the press conference that the deal would be capped and time-limited.
The UK will work towards rejoining the Erasmus programme, which allows students to study and travel across Europe more easily.
Defence
The two sides have been keen to develop ties in defence since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
On Monday, it was announced that they had agreed a formal security and defence partnership, covering information-sharing, which will increase support for defence initiatives, mobility of military material and personnel, space security, cyber issues and resilience of critical infrastructure.
The government said it “paves the way” for UK-based arms companies to secure access to the Security Action for Europe (Safe) — an EU fund worth £150bn.
