Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes Reset or compromise? Taking stock of the EU-UK summit
May 19, 2025
Mij Rahman, Managing Director for Europe at Eurasia Group and expert in European politics, joins the discussion. They analyze the recent EU-UK summit's key agreements, particularly the agri-food deal and security partnership. While it marks progress, unresolved tensions linger, especially around fishing rights post-Brexit. The conversation delves into the complexities of negotiation efforts, exploring whether this summit can truly reset relations or serves merely as a cautious step amid deeper political challenges. What lies ahead for UK-EU ties?
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Key EU-UK Summit Agreements
- The EU-UK summit agreement includes a dynamic alignment in agri-food regulations and a security and defence partnership.
- UK fishing waters access for EU vessels is extended to 12 years, marking a concession by the UK.
Agri-Food Deal's Political Impact
- The agri-food deal is modest economically but notable politically for breaching red lines like ECJ role and dynamic alignment.
- It may set a precedent allowing further sector cooperation under pragmatic British governance.
Fishing Deal's Political Cost
- The UK government sacrifices long-term fishing leverage for a 12-year European access agreement.
- Political fallout from this concession is expected, despite its small economic importance.