The United Kingdom and the European Union today concluded a new strategic partnership to strengthen ties, particularly in defense, at the first summit since Brexit.
"This summit marks a new era in our relationship," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.
Starmer said that the agreement reached was a win-win for everyone and pointed out that, together with the trade agreements signed last week with Iran and the US, it means jobs plus growth for the UK.
After months of negotiations, the Europeans and the British concluded a partnership on defense and security, found a compromise on easing some trade barriers, and extended the fisheries agreement for 12 years.
On the other hand, the negotiations did not fully reach an agreement on youth mobility.
Starmer said the agreements would cut red tape, boost the growth of the British economy and reset relations with the EU after Britain leaves the Union in 2020.
The Security and Defense Partnership Agreement provides for enhanced cooperation and could allow the British military industry to participate in a joint EU loan program for the purchase of weapons for 150 billion euros, which is still being negotiated by the Union's member states.
That agreement has become urgent due to the war that Russia has launched in Ukraine and the risk of the US withdrawing from the defense of Europe.
The second agreement is on reducing controls on food and agricultural products, which was an important demand of London, and will allow British companies to avoid the EU's tax on carbon emissions.
London says the measures should bring almost nine billion pounds (10,7 billion euros) to the British economy by 2040.
An agreement was also reached on a 12-year extension of the permit for EU fishing vessels to fish in British waters.
"It is time to look forward, to move away from stale old arguments and political battles and find common sense, practical solutions, which deliver the best for the British people," Starmer said.
He welcomed the agreement as "a new strategic partnership adapted to our era, which will bring real and tangible benefits in terms of security, illegal immigration, energy prices, the food and agricultural sector, trade and more."
Von der Leyen welcomed the historic moment between partners who have the same goals and who share the same values.
After the summit, the three leaders went to lunch on the frigate HMS Sutherland, which is anchored on the Thames in London next to the World War II cruiser HMS Belfast.
Upon coming to power in July 2024, Keir Starmer promised to restart relations with the EU after years of tensions between the European Union's twenty-seven and previous Conservative governments over Brexit, which came into effect on January 31, 2020.
Since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine and the risk of an American withdrawal from the defense of the European continent, London and Brussels have expressed a desire for closer ties in the field of defense.
Under the new partnership on defence and security, Britain will be able to participate in EU ministerial meetings and join some European military missions.
Negotiations continued until the last moment before today's summit to remove the last blockages, especially around the tricky issue of fishing, which is particularly sensitive for France.
In the end, Britain and the EU extended the agreement on access for European fishermen to British waters, which will be valid from 2026 to 2038.
In return, the British will be able to more easily export food products to the European market thanks to Britain's rapid and dynamic alignment with European sanitary regulations.
The agreement is sensitive from the British side, given the rise of the Europhobic and anti-immigrant Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage.
The British Prime Minister has been repeating his red lines in recent weeks, including that returning to the common market, the customs union, or establishing free movement is out of the question.
However, the vice-chairman of the Reform UK party, Richard Tice, accused the government of capitulating to the EU.
Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said they had once again become subject to Brussels' rules.
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