UK, EU Seal Post-Brexit Reset Agreement on Food, Fishing
(MENAFN) The United Kingdom and the European Union reached a pivotal agreement on Monday, overhauling their post-Brexit relationship following crucial progress in discussions regarding fishing access and inspections of food and agricultural goods.
The accord was finalized mere hours before a significant summit in London, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other high-ranking EU representatives.
This summit aims to "reset" the relationship between the two entities, more than five years after the UK officially left the EU on January 31, 2020.
According to British media reports citing EU sources, the agreement will permit EU vessels to fish in British waters until the end of June 2038—a 12-year extension.
In exchange, Brussels has consented to an open-ended arrangement to streamline inspections for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods, encompassing food, animals, and other agricultural products.
Previously, EU negotiators had reportedly sought to tie the length of SPS arrangements to fishing rights, a condition that was apparently dropped in the final stages of negotiation.
This breakthrough enabled both sides to advance towards a mutually advantageous agreement, although the terms are anticipated to face criticism from certain political factions within the UK.
The extended fishing rights are likely to generate opposition from the Conservative Party and Reform UK, both of which have historically advocated for greater UK sovereignty over its maritime territories.
While the deal resolves significant trade and regulatory matters, not all facets of UK-EU relations have been finalized.
A remaining point of contention is the structure for a reciprocal youth mobility scheme.
Disagreements persist over the UK’s proposition to limit the number of EU citizens eligible to participate—an approach that the EU strongly opposes.
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