Negotiators for the European Union and the UK have reached a deal to strengthen their post-Brexit relationship ahead of a summit on Monday, according to people familiar with the discussions and documents seen by Bloomberg.
The negotiating teams settled on a text at around 2 am European time and while the draft still needs to be approved by political leaders on both sides, no major objections are expected, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private talks.
The agreement includes three texts: a defence and security partnership, a joint statement on working together on geopolitical challenges such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and a “common understanding” on a range of other issues.
The two sides have agreed to extend reciprocal fishing rights for more than a decade, until 2038, according to a draft agreement seen by Bloomberg. Britain had originally wanted an extension of only four years but the concession will unlock future agreements on food and agricultural standards to remove the vast majority of border checks with the EU as well as on energy cooperation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government wanted to ease trade barriers as part of efforts to boost the country’s tepid level of growth. In working toward a “Common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area” known as SPS — as well as an agreement on energy — the UK would have to dynamically align with many relevant EU rules and accept the role of the European Court of Justice as the ultimate arbiter of the bloc’s laws.
In exchange for the longer-term fisheries arrangement, the EU dropped its request for the SPS deal or energy cooperation to be time-limited.
The UK will also work toward joining the EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange program and a time-limited youth visa scheme, which “should provide a dedicated visa path and ensure that the overall number of participants is acceptable to both sides in a win for the EU,” according to one of the documents.
The EU will remove barriers to allow British visitors to use e-gates within the EU and will work to ease travel for artists, the same draft says.
“There is a real prize here for the UK,” Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Times Radio. “The current deal has huge gaps in it, not just on areas to do with trade, but to do with security as well,” he said, referring to the Brexit deal struck more than four years ago.
As part of Monday’s defence and security pact, the EU and UK will establish a platform for the two sides to consult and work together in various areas, including information sharing, maritime and space security, and, crucially for Britain, the bloc commits to swiftly explore ways to allow Britain access to EU joint procurement defence funds.
A joint statement reached in the early hours of Monday morning stretched to six pages, reiterating support for Ukraine’s war against Russia. It said the UK’s foreign and defence secretaries will hold policy dialogues with the EU High Representative every six months.
“We are committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and other serious crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression,” it said.
On migration, a key concern for Starmer amid the electoral threat of Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform party, the statement said both sides recognize the need to work “with countries of origin and transit, and to prevent irregular Channel crossings.” Last week, the Prime Minister said his government was in talks with several countries that might receive failed asylum seekers.
