Resetting EU-UK Relations

A start in resetting EU-UK relations has finally been made. At Lancaster House on 19 May 2025, the Prime Minister  and EU Commission announced what they called a "landmark reset” of post‑Brexit relations. The deal included an indefinite simplification of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks—aimed at lowering food import costs and potentially saving consumers millions—alongside a 12‑year extension of EU fishing access to UK waters. Other key measures agreed were emissions trading linkage (saving UK businesses around £800 million), coupling in the electricity market, improved border e‑gate access, and a bespoke security and defence pact granting UK access to the €150 billion SAFE fund. Forecasts apparently suggest the sum total of these reforms could generate approximately £9 billion for the UK economy by 2040, according to government estimates.

Many business groups, unions, the TUC, and bodies across the food, energy, and education sectors hailed the agreement as a strong step forward. Some, however, have criticised the deal on fishing rights. The Prime Minister said it offered stability—not sacrifice—while critics from the Conservatives and Reform UK condemned it as a surrender of sovereignty. The Scottish fishing lobby voiced concerns, calling the deal “far worse” and accusing Westminster of betraying coastal communities  .

Our party leader Ed Davey welcomed the reset, praising it as “positive first steps” in rebuilding trust after Conservative-era breakdowns—but urged the government to ignore what he termed “dinosaurs” within the Tory and Reform ranks and push for deeper integration. We have advocated for a bespoke customs union and fuller linkages in emissions and trade, stressing that incremental gains could have been magnified tenfold with bolder ambition. We also backed the ides of a capped youth mobility scheme, and want to see a full return to membership of Erasmus+-

This summit was framed by the government as the first in a series of annual UK–EU meetings, opening the door to faster border processes, coordinated defence funding, and enhanced youth mobility. But many provisions—such as the customs union, Erasmus+ participation, and details of defence enrolment—still require many hours of negotiation, and the devil is in the detail. We think that this as a foundation to build on, and must not be a finish line. As Ed  put it, the government must “be bold and build on these first steps” to truly unlock economic growth and demonstrate that the UK’s renewed partnership with Europe benefits all communities.