What happened?
On 19 May, the EU and the UK signed an agreement on defence, fishing, trade, and energy and look to strengthen their ties in several areas that have been left incomplete post-Brexit. The summit is held in London between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and will have a series of talks on many factors that need to be cleared. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described this deal as a “win-win.” 

What is the agreement about?
The agreement serves as a U-turn to the post-Brexit relations with fishing, farming, exports, defence, youth experience, and carbon and energy being sectors in focus.

Fishing
One aspect of the deal that stands out the most is that European fishing boats have access to UK waters, and in exchange, the bloc will ease some of the tensions in trade. The deal for the EU to access has been extended to 30 June 2038. While Starmer is pleased with the terms of the agreement, other leaders are not happy with the deal. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calls the deal a surrender to the EU. Reform leader Nigel Farage responds by saying that the deal has sold out their fishing industry, all for closer ties to “an ever diminishing political union.” Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who advocated Brexit, has called out Starmer on accepting the deal, as he calls it a “one-sided deal.” He further added that Starmer is sacrificing the UK’s fishing interests and allowing the EU to plunder the resources from the UK’s seas.

Defence and Security
In the defence sector, both aim for prosperity in Europe and have established a comprehensive, balanced partnership that will focus on the security issues, peacebuilding, crisis management, and participation of the UK in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations. The CSDP includes maritime and space security, cyber issues, hybrid threats, false information, manipulation, non-proliferation, disarmament, conventional arms, capacity building for partners, education, and cooperation with the third world. Both regions have also agreed that NATO remains at the cornerstone of their collective defence pact. According to Boris Johnson, the agreement also represents the “walk back” of the promises that Starmer made during the elections.

Agriculture
According to the new deal, the barriers to export to the EU will be reduced, and the deal is widely accepted by UK’s farmers. The farmers of the National Pig Association are pleased to sell sausages to the EU, but the Chief Executive, Lizzie Wilson, fears that the deal could lead to fewer border checks and diseases like foot-and-mouth or the African swine fever could increase in Europe. She added that the deal must not result in “an open door” for meat imports from the EU. The Country Land and Business Association’s President, Victoria Vyvyan, calls for reassurance that the people can make decisions, under the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, that ensure the safety measures of the food are maintained and the health levels of the plants and animals are up to the desired mark.

What have been the regional responses?
According to Member of Parliament and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson, this deal will have fewer checks on the transport of goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. He added that the party will see the full details of the plan. He also raised his concerns over the fishing aspect of the deal and said that this will affect the local fishing firms. Italian MEP and chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, Sandro Gozi, said that the agreement considered the interests of both sides, highlighted the UK economy, and hoped that this deal would improve the relationship. Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer embraced the deal and called it a “reset of good news” for the UK, in light of the living costs. This deal also opens the regions for the youth who want to come and study or work and form friendships freely across Europe. 

Jamie Whitehead, Jenna Moon & Henry Zeffman, “Starmer hails 'new era' of UK-EU relations as Badenoch says deal 'taking us backwards'” BBC, 19 May 2025
“EU-UK summit, 19 May 2025,” Council of the European Union, 19 May 2025