NEWS STORY : UK and EU Sign Landmark Post-Brexit “Reset” Deal in London Summit

STORY

The UK and the European Union are today expected to sign what leaders described as the most significant overhaul of their relationship since Brexit, securing agreements on defence, trade and fisheries at a summit in London. Under the deal, the UK will grant EU fishing vessels access to British waters for 12 years, up from a previously proposed five-year term, in a concession aimed at removing cumbersome border checks that have hampered UK food exporters since 2020. In return, the EU agreed to an open-ended veterinary accord that will ease sanitary inspections on UK-bound agricultural products, helping safeguard food and drink trade.

A cornerstone of the reset is a new defence and security pact that opens the door for British firms to participate in a €150 billion European rearmament fund, reflecting London’s bid to bolster collective European security amid rising geopolitical tensions. The agreement also lays the groundwork for a limited youth mobility scheme and faster e-gate access for UK travellers at EU airports, though details of each programme will be negotiated in the coming months. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the package as a “common-sense, practical solution” that will cut red tape and deliver economic and security benefits for British citizens, even as some critics warn the concessions amount to an erosion of sovereignty. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the reset demonstrated Brussels’ willingness to pragmatically cooperate with a close neighbour “while respecting each other’s autonomy.”