UK and EU discuss their post-Brexit relationship but have different wish lists – Channel 4 News

2 Oct 2024

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is in Brussels as a part of his “drive to enhance the UK’s relationship with the European Union”. However past the handshakes and smiles, it’s removed from clear that the ‘reset’ he has promised will ship any tangible advantages.

Even earlier than Keir Starmer had arrived, either side had been managing expectations from this Brussels journey. World occasions have additionally largely eclipsed the assembly.

Though the Prime Minister has met Ursula von der Leyen informally a few instances since taking workplace, together with final week on the UN, that is his first devoted Brexit assembly with the European Fee president.

A row of British and EU flags hung limply outdoors an unusually windless European Fee headquarters this afternoon, as President von der Leyen greeted Keir Starmer with a now steadily used Brussels platitude: “In these very unsure instances, like-minded companions, like us, should cooperate extra intently.”

While the EU is content material to clean beforehand tempestuous relations with the UK, there’s suspicion that the brand new British authorities has a want record which is much from mutually helpful.

No surprise then that President von der Leyen solely dedicated to “discover the scope” for doing extra with the UK, while pointedly insisting that the first goal ought to be fulfilling the present Brexit offers between the UK and the EU.

“We must always discover the scope for extra cooperation whereas we concentrate on the total and devoted implementation of the Withdrawal Settlement, the Windsor Framework and the TCA [Trade and Cooperation Agreement]”, she mentioned.

Keir Starmer mentioned the general public expects the federal government to “make Brexit work and…to seek out methods to spice up financial development, strengthen our safety and deal with shared challenges like irregular migration and local weather change.”

And Downing Avenue insists that the Prime Minister “stays centered on delivering a broad-based safety pact, securing our borders and tackling boundaries to commerce.”

However, in actuality, the 2 sides need various things.

Enthusiasm for a deal on safety has change into extra muted because the UK and EU have discovered a technique to coordinate through the G7. Diplomats level out that allies can keep on the identical web page with out Brexit Britain unduly influencing EU choice making.

In financial affairs, some argue going past the present UK-EU free commerce settlement could be a return to cherry choosing, probably giving the UK single market benefits with nothing in return.

On migration, there are international locations, like France and Germany, calling for an EU cope with the UK, but when that meant Britain needed to take a share of EU migrants, it might be a no-go for London.

The EU was beforehand eager to enhance so-called youth mobility, to permit EU college students to extra simply research within the UK. However when the European Fee put ahead proposals earlier this 12 months, they had been shortly dismissed by each the, then, Conservative authorities, and Labour.

Then there’s the Labour manifesto dedication for a veterinary settlement with the EU. This could permit a freer stream of agricultural and meals merchandise between the UK and the EU and could be welcomed by farmers and supermarkets.

Such a deal would increase UK agri-food exports by greater than a fifth, in accordance with one estimate. It’s thought that the EU would additionally profit with a small enhance in exports to the UK.

Nonetheless a ‘vets’ deal would virtually actually require the UK to comply with EU agri-food guidelines, together with judgments by the European Court docket of Justice. And since taking workplace, Labour has, to this point, not proven a rush to deliver ahead such a deal.

Either side level out that will probably be some months earlier than any severe talks on any of those points might happen anyway.

A brand new set of European commissioners is but to be confirmed in workplace and could have different priorities once they get their toes below their desks.

Nonetheless, if the UK actually needs to press forward, the EU will not be useless set in opposition to doing extra. If the advantages outweigh the ache of reopening the UK field.

“We’re decided to place this relationship again on a secure, optimistic footing, that I feel all of us wish to see”, mentioned Keir Starmer, giving Ursula von der Leyen a sideways smile.