What EU Seeks From Starmer for an Even Softer Brexit

Keir Starmer is being received positively in Europe . Compared to what one leading EU politician has described as “the Ice Age” of relations under Boris Johnson Starmer’s approach of reconciliation and détente is warmly received across the Channel.

That détente was evident in London on Monday when Starmer stated European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Their summit "signifies a new chapter in our relationship."

"We are flipping the page. We are embarking on a new chapter in our distinctive relationship," von der Leyen responded.

However, underneath all the friendliness, many Europeans think the relationship hasn’t progressed sufficiently, and they’re eager to take things up a notch – and fast.

In addition to this, they think the updated post-Brexit agreement featuring 12-year fishing rights, along with its proposed plans, youth travel And collaborative defense can only succeed if current accords are entirely upheld – which they aren’t. Importantly, the prickly problem lies with EU citizens residing in the UK that is subject to a dispute between the EU and Britain.

This decision might cause concern among some Brexiteers, as one of the EU’s key MEPs suggests it’s time for the European Parliament to be more involved in these matters.

Sandro Gozi In the manner of intricate European titles, he serves as the chairman of the European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. Put simply, his role is to act as the primary liaison between Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and Members of British Parliament (MPs).

Although he generally approves of the softer Brexit deal — calling it "a solid foundation" — he cautioned that nothing will function effectively unless prior accords, like the original 2020 Brexit deal — the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) — are completely enforced.

Several problems from the initial divorce agreement remain unresolved.

"The integrity of the entire process depends on the correct and comprehensive enforcement of citizens' rights, the effective operation of the agreement in Northern Ireland, as well as the successful execution of the new provisions for food inspections," he stated. The i Paper "There are numerous concerns tied to TCA that have either not yet been put into practice or were only recently reached an agreement on," he stated.

Although both sides have concurred on the main principle of a youth mobility scheme – or "youth experience" as it has been renamed – the specifics like numbers, visa fees, and duration of stay have not been determined yet.

When he talks about citizen’s rights, Gozi is referring to the agreements that allow EU nationals to remain in the UK with “pre-settled status”, “settled status” and subsequently to apply for citizenship.

The EU has already taken the UK to court Regarding claimed violations of this accord, particularly concerning unjust deportations and mistreatment of relatives. The judiciary hasn't made a decision yet.

Even though the government provided clarification The i Paper Those EU citizens who already reside in the UK with settled status will not be required to resubmit their applications under the new stricter regulations. mentioning that a migrant needs to have been in the UK for ten years instead of five before applying.

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However, it remains uncertain if they will need to wait the entire ten years before applying for citizenship.

However, when it comes to another controversial issue — the shared commitment to "work toward" a program allowing easier travel and employment opportunities for individuals aged 18 to 30 between their nations — Gozi stated that “considerably more work remains to be done regarding youth mobility. We must add further substance to this framework.”

He similarly took aim at both Starmer and EU Council president Antonio Costa, who was present at the summit as well, for rejecting his proposal to involve MPs and MEPs in the proceedings.

I trust that this error will be rectified, as it serves the interests of all parties—both the European Union institutions and the British government—to have parliamentarians thoroughly engaged in this summit.

“I hope they perform better at the upcoming summit, and we will continue to emphasize this,” he stated.

A 'solid foundation' nevertheless

Overall, Gozi remained optimistic that Starmer’s “win-win” agreement serves as an excellent foundation for mending ties between both parties.

He expressed optimism regarding the steps toward consistent discussions on security and defense, the agreement on fishing rights, as well as the proposals to eliminate inspections for food exports.

It serves as an excellent foundation," remarked the ex-Italian minister, "since collaboration could evolve into a structured framework and discussions might turn routine in sectors marked by evident and significant shared interests.

"The section regarding security and defense is utterly essential, and it’s logical for the collective statement to address the geopolitical challenges we face. Additionally, it’s crucial to uphold the pledge of completely implementing the current accord—because significant enhancements are truly required," he noted.

He similarly greeted the pledges to organize the EU-UK relationship via discussions at a bilateral level as well as within international platforms such as the UN, the G7, and NATO. "However, we're merely at the start of this process—we ought to witness far greater collaboration," he stated additionally.

He stated that the final agreement on one of the key issues — ensuring access for European Union vessels to United Kingdom waters for a period of 12 years starting from mid-2026 — "is sensible and mirrors reality."

Above all, Gozi commended Starmer for reshaping the relationship between Brussels and London.

'Transitioning Through the Ice Age'

"We are transitioning from the Ice Age, where relations froze during Boris Johnson’s tenure, into a new era," he stated.

“The attitude, the language used, the will to listen to each other – this has all been a major shift. They really wanted to turn the page and today we turned the page. The page is not totally written, but it’s certainly a very good new beginning. Because the attitude of the Tories before then was very, very unhelpful, not only for us, but also for Britain.”

Analysts concurred with Gozi, stating that Starmer accurately characterized the summit as progressing beyond the "worn-out debates and political conflicts" of the past. Brexit era.

“I’d say this is definitely progress,” stated Fabian Zuleeg, CEO of the European Policy Centre, a Brussels-based think tank. “It appears that both parties aren’t just speaking optimistically; they also seem to be much better coordinated with each other.”

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We've got the appropriate music now. The next question is, what does this actually mean? How can we turn that into practical actions moving forward?

Zuleeg stated that the main point of concern was whether the security and defense collaboration, which facilitates more intensive military cooperation, would result in "a genuine integration regarding Ukraine and within the European defense sector."

He mentioned this was the most significant challenge, considering the circumstances in Ukraine and Donald Trump’s warnings to withdraw from the U.S.'s NATO promises.

Is this really going to take place? I believe the indicators are quite positive, since so far both the UK and the EU have coordinated fairly smoothly. This is an aspect where their objectives have aligned; what the EU aimed for coincided with what the UK was aiming for.

Certainly, there isn’t any pressure currently due to the approach being taken by the Trump administration; however, generally speaking, I anticipate that coordination in this field will be quite excellent."

Another warning signal was run up the flag pole by Berlin-based analyst Nicolai von Ondarza, who pointed out the increase in co-operation was based on voluntary goodwill, not binding commitments.

"This represents a significant advancement, though only if executed properly," stated the analyst from the Berlin-based research foundation Stiftung Wissenschaft undPolitik.