Agreement covers six themes and marks the restoration of post-Brexit relationships among the interveners
The United Kingdom and Europe reached a historic agreement on the restoration of pro-Brexit relations. For British Prime Minister Keir Stmerer, it’s time to “put aside political struggles” and celebrate an agreement that marks a victory for both sides.
Strmer received Ursula Von Der Leyen, chairman of the European Commission, and António Costa, president of the European Council, as well as Kaja Kallas, the EU’s main diplomat, and Maros Sefcovic, the bloc’s main commercial manager at Lancaster House in London.
Downing Street estimates that the agreement, which could be worth about 10 billion euros by 2040 for the British coffers, paves the way for more flowing relationships between the “free sectors of a huge bureaucracy.”
The British Prime Minister said “a new era begins” in relations with Europe and that the United Kingdom is “back to the world scene.”
These are the key points of the agreement:
What changes
Defense and Security Pact
- Six monthly foreign and security policy dialogues between the United Kingdom Foreign Minister and the EU’s high representative for Foreign Affairs, along with regular invitations for the United Kingdom to attend high -level EU meetings, including European councils;
- An annual dialogue between the EU and the United Kingdom on the defense and the possibility of the United Kingdom to participate in crisis management exercises within the EU common security and defense policy:
- Deepening cooperation and exchange of space information, cybersecurity and the so -called “shadow fleet” used to violate the sanctions imposed by Russia, Iran and other countries;
- Exchange of Personnel Training through the UE and UK Superior Defense Schools;
- Agreement that, under the reservation of signing an agreement with a third country, the United Kingdom can participate in a fund of 150 billion euros for weaponry loans, supported by the block’s shared budget.
Fishing agreement
- A 12 -year agreement to ensure access to EU vessels to the United Kingdom waters from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2038.
- The agreement provides for the continuation of the access of the EU fishing vessels to the coastal waters of the United Kingdom, which are between six and 12 miles.
- Access will be based on the average tonnage captured between 2012 and 2016 in the 370-kilometer zone of the exclusive economic zone of each.
Veterinarian
- Agreement to work towards an agreement that would mean that the “vast majority” of agro-food exports to EU would be carried out without control and certificates. The agreement requires that both parties apply the “same rules”, which means that the UK will follow the EU rules on plant and animal products, which is called “dynamic alignment.”
Young people’s mobility, companies and artists mobility
- The EU and the United Kingdom wake up to “work to” create an experience program for young people between 18 and 30, which allows them to travel and work more easily in their respective countries. The program must be limited over time, have a specific visa regime and ensure that the total number of participants is “acceptable to both parties”.
- Agreement to “work in the sense” of the UK again joining the Erasmus+ Student Exchange Program of the EU.
- The EU will “continue to support” the tour artists who work in the block, but the UK’s request for a special agreement is not accepted.
- Agreement to discuss the facilitation of business visas and mutual recognition of their professional qualification regimes.
- The EU states that “there are no legal obstacles” to the use of electronic doors by the British citizens at airports when the entry/exit visa regime of the block comes into force.
Energy trade and border taxes on carbon
- The EU is committed to exploiting the UK participation in the EU’s domestic energy market that was blocked by Brexit, but continues to apply the current energy trade agreements.
- The EU and the United Kingdom agree to explore the re-ligation of the respective issuing license regimes that were cut by Brexit. If this is done, the United Kingdom will be exempt from the border tax on the EU carbon, which comes into force on January 1, 2026, a year before the United Kingdom regime.
- EU will require a “dynamic alignment” with EU rules as a condition for any re-ligation of energy markets. The United Kingdom will also make an unspecified financial contribution.
Border security and security exchanges
- Commitment to “quickly” finish cooperation agreements with Europol that were part of the original post-Brexit trade and cooperation agreement.
- Waking up in “mutually beneficial” information exchanges on terrorism and other serious crimes and “deepening cooperation” on human trafficking and other irregular migration domains.
- The EU agrees to “explore forms” to deepen cooperation and accelerate the exchange of information databases on DNA, fingerprints and data related to vehicle registration.
- Commit to “sharing best practices” about how to manage irregular migrant returns to third countries.
