The Party of European Socialists welcomes the news that the European Union and the United Kingdom have agreed a strategic partnership, marking a fundamental milestone in the reset of EU-UK relations under the Labour government. At the heart of this agreement was the leadership of UK Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President of the European Council António Costa.
Thanks to this agreement, both UK and EU citizens will reap the benefits of closer cooperation. Among the many benefits of this comprehensive agreements, UK citizens will once again be able to use E-gates in airports, bringing an end to long standing queues coming to the EU. Similarly, UK universities will be welcomed back into Erasmus and young people on both sides of the English Channel will be eligible to apply for a new youth mobility scheme.
Another key achievement of the summit was that the formal UK-EU defence and security pact has been established, which will pave the way” for UK-based arms firms to access the Security Action for Europe (Safe) – a £150bn EU fund providing loans for defence projects.
Moreover, on food, the UK will get reduced checks on food exports to the EU through a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, meaning the UK can sell raw burgers and sausages back into the EU for the first time since Brexit.
Reacting to the news of the agreement, PES president Stefan Löfven said:
‘‘After nine years since Brexit fractured the relationship between the UK and the EU, I am delighted to see that both sides are taking constructive steps forward.
The United Kingdom has played a fundamental role in Europe’s foundation, history, and international affairs as a reliable and like-minded ally. This agreement begins the journey to facilitate trade, build bridges between our young people, and to strengthen our common defence in the face of those who seek to divide us.’’
