New departure: Great Britain and EU conclude historical agreements!

New departure: Great Britain and EU conclude historical agreements!

London, Großbritannien - On May 19, 2025, the EU and Great Britain achieved a significant agreement on the realignment of their relationships after Brexit. This has been the first summit since Britain's formal exit from the EU in January 2020. At this meeting, in which British Prime Minister Keir Stranger, EU Council President António Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen took part, various subject areas have been discussed that range from defense and security to fishing and food controls. According to Tagesschau , this agreement is considered the most important realignment since the Brexit.

Straße emphasized the need for pragmatic solutions to improve the life of the British, while Costa praised the agreement as a “new chapter” in the relationships between the EU and Great Britain. The urgency of cooperation in times of global instability emphasized from the Leyen, especially in the context of war in Ukraine. These geopolitical tensions have significantly influenced the approximation between the two sides, so the ZDF .

security and defense pact

A central element of the agreement is a security and defense pact that enables British companies to participate in EU armaments projects. This includes a recovery fund of 150 billion euros. In addition to military cooperation, communication about irregular migration is also to be intensified. The joint protection of critical infrastructure and a cooperation in space is planned, reported the Kurier .

The negotiations before the summit were intense, in particular the conversations about the fishing rights that were long controversial. Ultimately, an agreement was reached that enables European fishermen to fish in British waters by 2026; This regulation will apply for another twelve years below. In addition, the bureaucracy for food imports from Great Britain is relaxed indefinitely, which is positive news for trade relationships.

youth mobility and future cooperation

Another controversial point is youth mobility, which is only in general in the agreement. Concrete details should be clarified in future negotiations. Great Britain could agree to a limited youth mobility program, which may include participation in the Erasmus+program. Great Britain remains strictly with its "red lines": access to the customs union or a free movement of passenger transport are excluded, as is the ZDF reported.

Although a majority of the British regrets the Brexit decision, surveys show that the desire to re-enter the EU remains low. Under Prime Minister Strauber, Great Britain seems to be more important to the EU, especially countries such as France and Germany. This multi -layered relationship is further complicated by the current geopolitical challenges, while Great Britain is also looking for close cooperation with the USA and Poland to coordinate the reactions to the Russian attack war against Ukraine.