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UK and EU in last-minute deal talks ahead of summit UK and EU agree post-Brexit deal on fishing and trade
(about 3 hours later)
The prime minister is expected to welcome European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to London on MondayThe prime minister is expected to welcome European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to London on Monday
Negotiations to reset the UK's post-Brexit relations reached a "breakthrough" last night, No 10 sources said, as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to meet EU leaders at a summit in London. The UK and the European Union have agreed a deal on fishing, trade and strengthening ties, in the first big reset of relations since Brexit.
Talks between the UK and the EU continued late into Sunday evening, with the issues discussed thought to include defence, trade, fishing rights and a possible youth mobility scheme. A 12-year deal has been done on fishing access for EU boats into UK waters in exchange for easing some trade frictions - a deal which is likely to prompt a row.
The government is expected to argue it has secured improved trading rights for British food and agricultural products into the EU.
The Conservatives and Reform UK have described news of the deal as a "surrender" and a "capitulation" to the EU.
Talks between the UK and the EU continued late into Sunday evening, with defence, trade, fishing rights and a possible youth mobility scheme among the issues discussed.
The remaining stumbling blocks to a deal, mostly concerning fishing rights, were solved at about 22:30 on Sunday night, government sources said.The remaining stumbling blocks to a deal, mostly concerning fishing rights, were solved at about 22:30 on Sunday night, government sources said.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have described the deal as a "surrender", despite the contents being unknown. A defence and security pact will be central to the agreement, which will be set out in a few hours at a UK-EU summit in London.
Sir Keir will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the second time in four days as they aim to strike a deal. Announcements around trade and security were expected to include British access to a €150bn (£125bn) EU defence fund, which could be a boost for UK defence companies.
Negotiations for the UK are being led by the minister for UK-EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, who told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he was driven by "ruthless pragmatism" and was focused on jobs, lower household bills, and stronger borders. Both sides will emphasise the shared desire for deepening co-operation.
He said the government was "confident" a deal to cut red tape on food exports and imports to and from the EU will be agreed. Other key elements, such as the idea of a youth mobility scheme, will still be subject to further negotiation.
But he declined to give specific details of any deal, saying: "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the second time in four days to announce the deal.
Announcements around trade and security have been expected to include British access to a €150bn (£125bn) EU defence fund, which could be a boost for UK defence companies. The BBC has been told the announcement will focus on three main areas - a pact on defence and security, a statement about deepening ties, and a document spelling out the details of issues still up for negotiation.
Fishing could also be part of a deal, with a post-Brexit deal on fishing rights set to expire at the end of June 2026. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC the UK's relationship with the EU had some "real gaps in it", mentioning defence, passport checks and trade in food.
The Conservatives have warned that the government must "make it clear that giving up any rights to UK waters and natural resources would represent a betrayal to British fishermen". He said negotiations with the EU had been "promising" and there had been some "breakthroughs".
Reports have circulated that a youth mobility scheme with the EU could be set up - something that Sir Keir told the Times on Saturday would be a "reciprocal" arrangement in which young people would be able to move abroad for up to two years. On fishing, he said the crucial thing the industry needed was "market access to sell the product".
Two EU diplomats told the BBC the new UK-EU fishing deal would last until 2038.
One source said it amounted to a rollover of the existing terms agreed as part of the revised withdrawal agreement negotiated by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government in 2019.
The post-Brexit deal on fishing rights was set to expire at the end of June 2026.
One diplomatic source said the text as it currently reads says: "We note the political agreements leading to full reciprocal access to waters to fish until 30 June 2038 and extending energy cooperation on a continuous basis."
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said giving the EU access to British waters for 12 years "was three times longer than the government wanted".
"We're becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again," she posted.
Reform UK MP Richard Tice said Sir Keir had sold out British fishing and promised his party would would repeal this deal if it won the next general election.
When asked if Brexit freedoms were being lost, Reynolds said the deal would "reduce bureaucracy" in areas where "we've got the same standards on both sides".
And commenting on the possibility of a youth mobility scheme, Reynolds said the "details would need to be worked out" but insisted "it's something different to freedom of movement that we had in the past".
There have been talks about a youth mobility scheme with the EU - something that Sir Keir told the Times on Saturday would be a "reciprocal" arrangement in which young people would be able to move abroad for up to two years.
No specific details about the ages of those who could be eligible and whether there would be a cap on numbers were given, and it has received mixed responses from opposition parties.No specific details about the ages of those who could be eligible and whether there would be a cap on numbers were given, and it has received mixed responses from opposition parties.
Badenoch described the possible scheme as "free movement through the back door" while Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice said earlier this week that such a scheme would be "the thin end" of EU free movement. Badenoch said the lack of details on youth mobility would increase "fears of free movement returning", while Reform UK said earlier this week that such a scheme would be "the thin end" of EU free movement.
The Liberal Democrats have backed the idea of a "capped mobility scheme", although the party's Europe spokesperson James MacCleary has accused the government of "dragging their heels when it comes to properly negotiating on the issue".The Liberal Democrats have backed the idea of a "capped mobility scheme", although the party's Europe spokesperson James MacCleary has accused the government of "dragging their heels when it comes to properly negotiating on the issue".
Reports have also suggested there could be agreements on British travellers using EU e-gates at European airports and cutting red tape on food exports and imports. Reports have also suggested there could be agreements on British travellers using EU e-gates at European airports.
Thomas-Symonds said he was "pushing for people to be able to go through" European airports "far more quickly" and that he was confident about a deal on food. On Sunday, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister who's leading the negotiations for the UK, told the BBC he was "pushing for people to be able to go through" European airports "far more quickly" and that he was confident about a deal on food.
He added: "We know we've had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported because frankly it's just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that." He said: "We know we've had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported because frankly it's just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that."
Conservative MP Alex Burghart told the BBC on Sunday he was concerned the government was signing up to EU standards and becoming "a rule taker - one of the things we specifically left behind when we left the EU".