UK-EU Negotiations Go Down to the Wire as Last-Minute Deal Reached

Strategic Insights -

Key takeaways:

  • Negotiations on the UK's relationship with the European Union have reached a critical point, with fisheries and youth mobility among the outstanding sticking points.
  • A UK government source confirmed that negotiations are going down to the wire, with a deal not yet done and outstanding issues on both sides.
  • The EU is pushing for long-term access to British waters beyond the four-year deal proposed by the UK government, and has linked this with dropping checks and bureaucracy around the sale of food, animal and other agricultural products.
  • 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.
  • UK ministers are willing to offer a "smart and controlled" scheme for youth mobility, but the EU is pushing for a return to free movement "by the back door".
  • Other issues remain on the table, including tuition fees, the fee levied on EU nationals for using the NHS, and the merging of British and European emissions trading schemes.
  • The UK hopes to get access to a £125bn EU defence fund, and to establish a flagship security and defence partnership with the EU.
  • Public attitudes towards Brexit have shifted significantly, with two-thirds of Britons backing a closer relationship with the EU, and just 20% opposed.

Statistics:

  • 20% of Britons are opposed to a closer relationship with the EU (Source: Polls)
  • 2/3 of Britons back a closer relationship with the EU (Source: Polls)
  • £125bn: the value of the EU defence fund that the UK hopes to access (Source: No 10)
  • 4 years: the length of the deal proposed by the UK government for fishing access (Source: No 10)
  • double-digit: the extension of the deal hoped for by the EU on fishing access (Source: Brussels)
  • £125bn: the value of the EU defence fund (Source: No 10)
  • 13: the number of existing deals Britain has with countries including Australia and Canada on youth mobility (Source: No 10)
  • 18-30 years: the age range for youth mobility between Britain and the bloc (Source: EU)
  • 20%: the percentage of Britons opposed to a closer relationship with the EU (Source: Polls)
  • 2/3: the percentage of Britons backing a closer relationship with the EU (Source: Polls)

Sources:

  • A UK government source
  • No 10's press statement on Saturday
  • Polls
  • No 10's document on the proposed deal with the EU
  • Brussels' proposals for the deal
  • Nick Thomas-Symonds, the UK minister in charge of negotiations
  • Keir Starmer, Labour leader
  • Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader
  • Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader
  • Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader
  • Stephen Gethins, Scottish National party Europe spokesperson