UK, EU Reset Ties In Biggest Post-Brexit Deal As Starmer Pushes For ‘Practical Cooperation’

<p>In a significant post-Brexit development, the United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed to reset their defence and trade relations &mdash; marking the most substantial thaw since the 2016 referendum. The agreement comes amid shifting global dynamics, spurred in part by U.S. President Donald Trump&rsquo;s foreign policy moves, which have pushed both sides to reassess their strategic partnerships.</p>
<p>Nearly nine years after Britain voted to leave the EU, the new pact will enable the UK to participate in joint defence procurement projects with the bloc, according to a Reuters report. The two sides also reached agreements to ease trade flows &mdash; particularly for food products &mdash; and signed a new fishing deal, addressing one of the most contentious Brexit issues.</p>
<p>The UK government said the reset with its largest trading partner would cut red tape for food and agricultural producers, help lower food prices, enhance energy security, and potentially add nearly &pound;9 billion to the British economy by 2040.</p>
<p>This agreement marks the third major deal Britain has sealed this month, following new arrangements with India and the United States. While an immediate economic impact is unlikely, analysts believe it could boost corporate sentiment and attract investment, the report stated.</p>
<h3><strong>Keir Starmer On UK-EU Deal: &lsquo;Move On From Stale Old Debates And Political Fights To Find Common Sense&rsquo;</strong></h3>
<p>British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had backed the Remain campaign in the Brexit referendum, positioned the deal as a step towards practical cooperation. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s time to look forward,&rdquo; he said in a statement. &ldquo;To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people. We&rsquo;re ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people&rsquo;s lives here at home.&rdquo;</p>
<h3><strong>Defence, Fisheries, Youth Mobility Scheme In UK-EU Pact</strong></h3>
<p>Central to the agreement is a defence and security pact that will allow UK firms such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Babcock to participate in a &euro;150 billion European rearmament programme.</p>
<p>On fisheries, British and EU vessels will be granted mutual access to each other&rsquo;s waters for 12 years. In exchange, the UK secured a permanent reduction in paperwork and border checks &mdash; a relief for small food exporters struggling to access European markets.</p>
<p>Additionally, Britain agreed to a framework for a limited youth mobility scheme, with specific details to be negotiated later. Talks are also underway about the UK rejoining the Erasmus+ student exchange programme.</p>
<p>The agreement drew criticism from Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage and the opposition Conservative Party, which had overseen the UK&rsquo;s EU departure and the original exit deal. However, polls indicate that while most Britons now regret the Brexit vote, they do not favour rejoining the bloc. Farage continues to lead opinion polls, limiting Starmer&rsquo;s political leeway, Reuters reported.</p>
<p>Years of tense negotiations had soured UK-EU relations, but cooperation on Ukraine and mutual concerns over Trump-era isolationism have helped rebuild trust. Rather than seek re-entry into core EU structures like the single market, Starmer opted to improve market access in specific sectors &mdash; an approach the EU has often criticised as &ldquo;cherry picking&rdquo;, the report stated.</p>
<p>The easing of food trade barriers required Britain to accept EU oversight on standards &mdash; a political risk that Starmer appears willing to take in exchange for economic gains. Trade analysts told Reuters that such pragmatism, especially when it benefits farmers and small businesses, makes for sound politics.</p>
<p>Despite the breakthrough, the UK economy remains altered from its pre-Brexit form. The financial sector in London has lost thousands of jobs and suffered reduced output and tax revenue as a result of the split.</p>