UK (commonwealth) _ An informal conference of EU leaders has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for early 2025. The UK has never received an invitation like this since the tense days of the Brexit talks.
Future defense and security cooperation is the main topic of the February summit. Europe’s perspective on the world’s current condition of instability has given the background for this situation.
Conflicts are raging in the Middle East and Europe, with China, North Korea, and Iran supporting Russia in its war with Ukraine, as uncertainty already plagues this continent.
These risks to trade, income, and security have reminded the EU and the UK of their shared principles in uncertain times. Brexit in 2016 left the EU feeling vulnerable. It meant losing its only major military strength outside of France, as well as a sizable economy.
Without the constraints of EU membership, the UK’s influence on the international scene has significantly diminished. The Labour government has come to the realization that fulfilling a number of important promises made to the British public depends on Europe.
All of these issues—economic, defense, migration, etc.—have a European component, which makes EU ties crucial to the overall government agenda. Mark Leonard, the director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, asserts that Europe is integral to the success of this government.
Labour has consistently pledged an “ambitious reset” of EU-UK relations.
Since its victory in the summer general election, there has been a tremendous deal of shuttle diplomacy and symbolism.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves spoke at a session of EU finance ministers, Foreign Secretary David Lammy attended a gathering of EU foreign ministers, and Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU Commission, met with the prime minister in Brussels.
However, what is the true meaning of this “reset”? In 2025, what can we anticipate? Could the UK government grant some degree of freedom of movement in return for financial gains from EU trade?
Ahead of the commencement of bilateral talks, several high-ranking diplomats and political people from the UK and EU member states talked to me on condition of anonymity. The summit is scheduled for the spring.
The “enormous amount of goodwill” in the EU for the new Labour administration, with its frequently expressed “reset” enthusiasm, was something I kept hearing about. The UK government’s announcement of an “ambitious” reset while insisting on upholding restricted post-Brexit red lines has bewildered EU officials.
According to a recent working paper outlining EU interests, there were “limited economic advantages on offer” as a result of the UK’s refusal to accept free movement of people or rejoin the EU’s single market or customs union.
There are suspicions in the EU that the UK administration thinks it can obtain a trade-for-defense deal. That is never going to happen, they say. According to one EU ambassador, the UK is misguided if it believes it can use a defense accord as a cover to negotiate favorable trade terms with us.
It feels to us like a strange tug-of-war. The EU is grappling with conflicting forces. There are more values that bind us together than separate us from the UK.
Although we cannot eliminate the technical details that form the basis of the EU, the EU wishes to take steps to bring the UK closer. Even if it limits our relationship with the UK, we cannot make special arrangements. Both parties will need to make concessions if economic relations are to see a meaningful improvement.
There is no desire in Brussels to destroy the current trade agreement between the EU and the UK, known as the TCA. However, you can see that the EU is willing to begin talks on several economic areas at the same time.
