Moving target
The latest round of negotiations, which come almost a decade after the U.K. voted to leave the EU, center around a landmark summit between the two sides set to be held this summer. While July is considered the most likely month, two officials expressed frustration that the date is still unconfirmed and plans have fallen through several times.
The European Commission has indicated it is open to making progress on a number of technical issues. “We have a shared interest in a stronger cooperation that delivers for our security, our economies and our citizens,” said a spokesperson.
“In view of the next Summit, we are working to conclude the key files of last year’s Common Understanding: an SPS [agricultural standards] agreement, [Emissions Trading System] linkage, and a Youth Experience Scheme, and to advance work on electricity trading,” the Commission spokesperson said.
Despite the skepticism, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola told POLITICO that the momentum is genuinely in favor of closer ties. | Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images
A British government spokesperson said future deals with the bloc “will tear down unnecessary barriers to trade, which will drive economic prosperity on both sides of the channel and ease cost pressures for U.K. families.”
But others point out that those things predate Starmer’s announcement of a new push, and that a more meaningful rapprochement is unlikely without a fundamental change in the post-Brexit relationship.
“How revolutionary can it be without revisiting their red lines?” asked one senior EU official. “The Labour government isn’t doing this and if they hype up the message of revolutionary change with the EU then everyone will be disappointed and they’ll say ‘Brussels is punishing us.’”