LONDON — The United Kingdom and the European Union welcomed a fresh start on Monday, signing new trade, defense, and youth mobility agreements during their first formal summit since Brexit. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in London to finalize the deals to improve bilateral cooperation, according to the Associated Press.
The agreements include reduced border checks on food and agricultural products, alignment with EU regulations, and an extended fishing rights arrangement through 2038. The changes are expected to ease cross-border trade and address long-standing issues affecting Northern Ireland and U.K.-EU commerce since the UK exited the bloc in 2020.
A new defense procurement framework will allow the UK access to an EU-backed loan facility valued at €150 billion ($170 billion) to purchase military equipment, including support for Ukraine. According to officials, British defense firms will be eligible for these funds.
On mobility, the UK and EU announced plans to develop a youth exchange scheme to permit temporary work and residence for young people. Specific terms have not been released, though UK officials said limits will be placed on duration and numbers.
Under the new agreement, British travelers will also gain access to automated e-gates at more EU airports, addressing post-Brexit delays at border control.
Opposition leaders criticized the deal. Conservative Party head Kemi Badenoch said the government was “returning to EU alignment,” and Reform UK leaders called the agreement a reversal of Brexit promises. Starmer responded that the UK remains outside the EU single market and customs union, and that free movement has not been reinstated.
David Henig of the European Centre for International Political Economy noted that aligning with EU regulations in select sectors reflects the trading reality of a country where nearly half of exports go to the EU.
