The United Kingdom and the European Union have strengthened their trade and security relationship five years post-Brexit in a deal reached Monday.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen reached the agreement amid strong opposition by Conservatives and Reform UK who called the deal a “surrender” to the EU.
“It’s time to look forward to move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions,” Starmer said in a statement. “We’re ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people’s lives here at home.”
Under the agreement, British citizens will be allowed to travel through electronic gates in European airports, U.K. arms firms will be allowed to bid on EU defense contracts, and British steel imports will be exempt from new EU tariffs and rules, which the government says will save the industry €25 million.
The U.K. and Europe have worked closely on defense to help defend Ukraine from Russia’s invasion. As a result of the deal, British companies will be allowed into the continent’s defense program, allowing them to bid for security contracts against European competitors.
“This joint procurement will increase our readiness, will close military gaps that we have,” von der Leyen said.
The deal will also allow for British meat products to be sold in the EU, and boost other food and drink trade, because it will cut “red tape” that backs up the border.
Starmer said he hopes this will cut down on prices, while not sacrificing the red lines of the Brexit deal.
The EU and U.K. will collaborate on emissions standards as part of the deal as well. The EU has the world’s oldest Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Under ETS, energy intense businesses are capped at how much emissions they can produce. Britain created its own ETS after Brexit, but it is not as broad as the EU’s. This agreement will link the two standards, which will keep EU businesses from facing EU carbon taxes.
One of the most contentious parts of the agreement is allowing European boats to fish in U.K. waters until June 30, 2038, thus extending the original date for fishing right access which was set to expire at the end of June 2026. Certain checks on fish and animal products will cease as both sides agreed to a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement (SPS), which outlines standards for health, food safety, and consumer protection.
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Starmer said the agreement will allow British fishermen to “sell more easily into the European market.”
The plan also calls for greater cooperation on a youth mobility scheme that would allow European Union citizens and British citizens to be more easily able to work and travel between their respective sovereignties.
Conservatives have criticized the deal as too much of a sacrifice to the European Union. Washington Examiner commentator Dan Hannan said it creates a two-tier EU: “27 full members and one non-voting member.”
The deal comes as President Donald Trump is seeking to downgrade the security commitment to Europe and has slapped European trading partners with additional tariffs.