Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a landmark 'reset' deal with the European Union, aimed at turning the page on years of Brexit-related divisions. Hosting European Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen in London, Starmer described the agreement as a pragmatic step forward, focused on delivering benefits for the British public.
The deal includes a range of measures to ease trade and travel friction between the UK and EU. However, critics have raised concerns about the scale of concessions made by the UK government.
One of the most contentious points is the decision to grant EU fishing vessels continued access to UK waters under current terms for the next 12 years. This extension, reportedly the result of a last-minute push from French negotiators, has sparked backlash from coastal communities. In response, the government has unveiled a £360 million support package for affected regions.
The agreement also lays the groundwork for a new youth mobility scheme, allowing young Europeans to live, work, and study in the UK for up to three years. Officials have emphasized that the scheme will be capped and time-limited, insisting it aligns with immigration control efforts.
In return for these concessions, the UK has secured the removal of checks on food lorries heading to the EU, a sticking point that had previously led to the so-called "sausage wars." However, the UK must now accept dynamic alignment with EU sanitary and phytosanitary regulations and make financial contributions to relevant EU systems.
British defence firms will also gain access to a £126 billion EU weapons fund, though this benefit comes with additional financial commitments from UK taxpayers.
On the travel front, UK tourists will be allowed to use e-gates at EU airports, reducing border wait times. Restrictions on taking pets to the continent will also be relaxed.
Some aspects of the agreement remain unresolved, with both sides committing to further discussions in the coming months.
European Commission President von der Leyen called the agreement the start of a "new chapter" in UK-EU relations.
Despite the optimistic rhetoric, opposition voices, including Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Scottish Tory MP John Lamont, have criticized the extended fishing terms as excessive and a betrayal of UK interests.
The full implications of the reset deal will unfold in the months ahead, as further negotiations solidify its details. Photo by Rossographer, Wikimedia commons.