UK-EU Talks on Brink of Collapse as Sticking Points Remain
Negotiations between the UK and the European Union on a significant reset of their relationship have reached a critical juncture, with hours to go before a crucial summit. According to sources, British officials were still trying to reach a compromise with their EU counterparts overnight, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepared to host European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in London on Monday.
The talks, which have been described as going "down to the wire," are centred on outstanding issues including fisheries and youth mobility. A UK government source told The Guardian that "negotiations are going down to the wire and a deal is not yet done. There are some outstanding issues on both sides and conversations will continue overnight." The source’s comments highlight the complexity and sensitivity of the talks.
The EU’s ambassador to the UK, Ursula von der Leyen, and other Brussels chiefs are expected to attend the summit, which aims to draw a line under the turbulent Brexit years and signal a new era of cooperation between the UK and the EU. However, some EU diplomats have expressed concerns about the UK’s negotiating stance, with one diplomat telling The Guardian that "the whole discussion is a package. We will not accept elements that are only at the advantage [or] request of the UK without strong guarantees and commitments on other issues of importance for the EU, such as fisheries, energy, youth mobility."
The UK’s Minister for Europe, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said on Sunday that talks were in their "final hours," but admitted that key details of the deal were still being worked out. A flagship security and defence partnership is expected to be part of the deal, which could give the UK access to a £125bn EU defence fund to rearm the continent. This would be a significant boost for British defence companies, and underlines the closeness of the security relationship between the UK and the EU, particularly in light of the Ukraine conflict.
As The Guardian reports, Downing Street hopes that the summit will mark a significant shift in the UK’s relationship with the EU, and demonstrate that the UK has fundamentally changed since the Brexit referendum. The deal is seen as a "step towards" a deeper partnership with Europe, and ministers are preparing for a big political offensive to explain the benefits of closer ties with the EU.
However, the deal faces opposition from some quarters, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, describing it as a "surrender." Badenoch has promised to tear up any agreement that crosses strict Brexiter red lines if she becomes prime minister. The Labour government faces pressure from within and from progressive parties to go further in its negotiations with the EU.
Public attitudes towards Brexit have shifted significantly, with polls suggesting that two-thirds of Britons now back a closer relationship with the EU. The issue of fishing remains a major stumbling block, with the EU insisting that the UK government offer long-term access to British waters. The two sides are also discussing the language on a youth mobility deal allowing 18- to 30-year-olds to travel more easily between Britain and the bloc.
As the talks enter their final hours, The Guardian understands that negotiators are on the verge of striking an agreement for UK passport holders to use e-gates across Europe, reducing airport queues for British holidaymakers. There are also plans to merge British and European emissions trading schemes, which the government says will reduce household bills and open up electricity trading with the continent.
The outcome of the talks will have significant implications for the UK’s relationship with the EU and for British politics more broadly. As Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said, "the prime minister must ignore the dinosaurs fighting old battles, who want to drag us back to the destructive Brexit wars of the past, and focus on getting the best deal possible for the UK." The Scottish National party has gone further, arguing that the best option for the UK would be to rejoin the EU.
As reported by The Guardian, the Lib Dems have urged the government to join a new UK-EU customs union to boost trade with the bloc and boost growth. However, the Labour government has turned its face against this option, citing concerns about sovereignty.
The stakes are high, and the outcome of the talks remains uncertain. One thing is clear, however: the next few hours will be crucial in determining the future of the UK’s relationship with the EU. According to The Guardian, the developments will be closely watched by businesses, politicians, and the public, who are all eager to see a new era of cooperation between the UK and the EU.
Original source: The Guardian – UK-EU talks ‘down to the wire’ as sticking points remain
