UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are set to hold a summit in London on May 19, where they are expected to sign a new trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
The negotiations come amid a shifting global trade landscape and changes in tariff policies under U.S. President Donald Trump. For the Labour Party, which currently governs Britain, strengthening ties with the EU is seen as a crucial step toward creating new jobs, while for the European bloc, Britain represents a valuable investment platform.
According to media reports, the UK has no intention of rejoining the EU. However, the two sides plan to simplify youth migration procedures, abolish food inspections, and sign an agreement on carbon emission standards.
At the same time, Labour opposes a full free trade agreement, citing fears it could undermine the competitiveness of British goods and harm the domestic labor market — the same concerns that fueled Brexit in 2016.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the UK’s chief negotiator, stated that the new agreement would mark an end to the “debates and disputes of the past”: “We want to put money in workers’ pockets and deliver long-term stability and security for Britain. Our policies will no longer be shaped by the debates and disputes of the past,” said Thomas-Symonds, a Member of Parliament from the Labour Party.
Preliminary information suggests the agreement between London and Brussels will resemble the one signed between the EU and Switzerland in 2023, but with adjustments tailored to the specifics of UK-EU cooperation.
In addition to the trade pact, both sides are planning to sign a Defense Pact. Under the new EU Defence White Paper, British defense companies would be allowed to bid for contracts on the European defense market. The details of this pact will be discussed further at a preliminary meeting between Starmer and von der Leyen in London on April 24, where they will also review the progress of their work.
The Times: UK and EU on the Brink of a New Economic Deal
According to The Times, Keir Starmer is close to securing a major trade deal with the EU that would open up the European defense market to British arms companies, potentially generating billions of pounds in sales.
The newspaper notes that the current Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed his intention to rebuild relations with the EU. In its election manifesto, Labour, which came to power in July 2024, promised to negotiate a security pact with the European bloc and strengthen defense cooperation with France, Germany, and other partners in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
The Times highlights that Starmer’s diplomatic efforts mark a reset in UK-EU relations, particularly regarding defense procurement. Britain has been lobbying for inclusion in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program — a €150 billion EU fund for the purchase of ammunition, artillery, air defense systems, missile systems, and drones — from which it had previously been excluded due to the lack of an agreement.
Despite the EU’s former “Buy European” principle, the current geopolitical climate — especially the support for Ukraine — has created new opportunities for Britain to access these lucrative defense contracts.
Progress on fisheries disputes has also helped smooth negotiations. The newspaper notes the disproportion between the two sectors: UK arms exports in 2023 were worth £14.5 billion, compared to just £1.7 billion from fish sales.
Against a backdrop of increasing security threats, the EU has intensified its focus on defense. In March, Brussels unveiled the “European Defence White Paper — Readiness 2030,” which names Russia as a “serious strategic threat” and warns of the possibility of a “large-scale, high-intensity war” on the continent — at a level unseen since 1945.
In response, the EU launched the ReArm Europe program, aimed at mobilizing €800 billion for defense needs. This sum includes funding for SAFE, which serves as a key credit instrument for European arms procurement.