UK and EU reach landmark 12-year fishing deal at London summit

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:

• A 12-year extension of EU fishing access to UK waters, running until 2038.
• A reciprocal arrangement allowing simplified sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks on UK agricultural and food exports entering the EU.
• Progress toward a UK-EU Defence and Security Pact to deepen cooperation amid global instability.
• Ongoing talks over a youth mobility scheme allowing 18–30-year-olds to live and work across the UK and EU for up to four years.
   

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.

Copied