The United Kingdom and the European Union have agreed to a 12-year deal granting EU fishing vessels access to UK waters, in exchange for reduced border checks on British food exports to the EU, as leaders gathered in London for a major summit aimed at "resetting" post-Brexit relations.
The agreement was confirmed as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed senior EU figures, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, to Lancaster House. The summit marks the highest-level engagement between the two sides since the UK formally left the EU in January 2020.
ALSO READ | What's in the UK-EU reset deal?
Key Points of the Agreement:
Political Reactions:
The fishing access deal sparked immediate backlash from opposition leaders and the fishing industry. Elspeth Macdonald, chief of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, called the outcome “a total capitulation to the EU,” warning it would severely limit the UK's leverage in future fisheries talks.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the agreement, saying: “We’re becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again.” Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, warned the deal could signal "the end of the fishing industry."
Despite this, the UK government defended the deal as a balanced compromise. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds rated it a “solid eight out of ten,” citing benefits for “jobs, bills, and borders,” and emphasized that “people will see and feel immediate benefits.”
Broader Context:
The summit reflects a changing political climate, with both sides seeking stability amid challenges such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and uncertainty over U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Closer UK-EU cooperation on security, trade, and mobility is seen as strategically beneficial for both.
EU diplomats confirmed the deal extends full reciprocal fishing access through June 30, 2038, and includes provisions for ongoing energy cooperation. Meanwhile, the UK announced a new £360 million coastal growth fund to support communities affected by fishing policy changes.
More details are expected at a joint press conference later today, with leaders from both sides emphasizing their commitment to rebuilding trust and pragmatic cooperation post-Brexit.
The UK is sending extra Royal Air Force jets to the Middle East to support potential crisis situations, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed during his G7 trip to Canada.
As G7 leaders prepare to meet, most member states are ready to cut the Russian oil price cap to $45 even without U.S. backing.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, has announced a record £2.5 billion in additional funding this week to advance the development of the world’s first fusion power plant.
On Wednesday, British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves outlined a strategic spending plan focused on health, defence, and infrastructure in an effort to stimulate economic growth and restore public confidence in the Labour government.
Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja visited the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard on Monday, marking 100 years of Norwegian sovereignty amid growing global interest in the polar region.
Israel launched a strike on Saturday targeting Iran’s energy sector for the first time in its current military campaign, hitting installations at the South Pars gas field, a major fuel depot in Tehran, and a nearby oil refinery.
The EU will delay plans to curb Russian nuclear fuel imports, focusing first on phasing out Russian gas by 2027, the European Commission confirmed.
Another group of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Russia has been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan. During the night, a new group of orchestra members crossed into Azerbaijan through the Astara border checkpoint as part of the ongoing evacuation process.
France has closed four major Israeli company stands at the Paris Air show for reportedly displaying offensive weapons, intensifying diplomatic tensions with Israel amid criticism of its actions in Gaza.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
The Israeli military has issued an evacuation advisory for Iranian civilians living near weapons production sites and associated infrastructure within Iran. The message was shared on the social media platform X in both Arabic and Farsi by an official military spokesperson.
An Air India flight with 242 passengers on board crashed in Meghaninagar, close to Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat, on Thursday afternoon.
India expects to conclude a free trade agreement with the European Union by the end of 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his visit to Cyprus.
Türkiye’s current account balance registered a deficit of $7.8 billion in April, according to data released Monday by the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (CBRT), marking a wider-than-expected shortfall amid a sharp goods trade imbalance.
Thousands of tourists in Israel find themselves stranded as escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has forced flight cancellations and city lockdowns, turning short vacations into uncertain, prolonged stays.
Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja visited the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard on Monday, marking 100 years of Norwegian sovereignty amid growing global interest in the polar region.
The EU will delay plans to curb Russian nuclear fuel imports, focusing first on phasing out Russian gas by 2027, the European Commission confirmed.
Norway's King Harald and Queen Sonja visited the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard on Monday, marking 100 years of Norwegian sovereignty amid growing global interest in the polar region.
Israel launched a strike on Saturday targeting Iran’s energy sector for the first time in its current military campaign, hitting installations at the South Pars gas field, a major fuel depot in Tehran, and a nearby oil refinery.
The EU will delay plans to curb Russian nuclear fuel imports, focusing first on phasing out Russian gas by 2027, the European Commission confirmed.
Another group of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Russia has been evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan. During the night, a new group of orchestra members crossed into Azerbaijan through the Astara border checkpoint as part of the ongoing evacuation process.
France has closed four major Israeli company stands at the Paris Air show for reportedly displaying offensive weapons, intensifying diplomatic tensions with Israel amid criticism of its actions in Gaza.
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