Brussels has turned down a British request to participate in decision-making in the EU. This further delays a deal to reset post-Brexit relations with the bloc.
London requested a decision-shaping role in the rules & regulations that Britain has agreed to follow. This is part of its push for closer economic ties with the EU, guided by people briefed on this topic.
The European Commission told member states that the idea wasn’t feasible, as it would give the UK more rights than countries such as Norway and Iceland, which pay into the EU budget and participate fully in its single market.
The UK’s request for decision-shaping was a key part of British attempts to defend the deal against criticism from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party. Furthermore, the Eurosceptic right said that the arrangement left the UK as a rule-taker from Brussels.
In a summit deal last year, the EU committed an appropriate UK contribution to decision-shaping. However, the EU has rejected a UK request to join committees, in addition to expert groups, that cover areas related to the deals London needs to sign as part of the reset. Under such a scheme, Britain would dynamically align with EU standards.
These are an agrifood trade agreement and a youth mobility deal, linking carbon trading schemes besides rejoining the single market for energy.
EEA members, including Norway & Iceland, participated only with the approval of the commission. The proposal is an option it may be open to for the UK, said officials.
The briefing on the meeting of EU ambassadors indicated that some progress had been made. However, the key agreements remained far from finalisation. Delaying a planned Wednesday, 22 July ’26 summit has brought some time to resolve them.
The EU postponed the summit after Sir Keir Starmer announced he was stepping down as prime minister. With Andy Burnham taking over the reins as premier, officials opined that they now expect a summit in October at the earliest.
