UK-EU relations ‘must move away from perception of winners and losers’, minister says

‘Reset’ summit between Keir Starmer and EU leaders to take place in May

British minister for the constitution and European Union relations Nick Thomas-Symonds. Photograph: Ronald Wittek/EPA
British minister for the constitution and European Union relations Nick Thomas-Symonds. Photograph: Ronald Wittek/EPA

The UK’s relationship with the European Union has to move away from something that is seen as a “zero-sum” game of winners and losers, the UK minister for EU relations has said.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, who has been tasked by UK prime minister Keir Starmer with improving relationships in Brussels, said both sides had an interest in cutting barriers on EU-UK trade.

The UK government saw “real opportunities to improve the status quo” of the post-Brexit arrangements with the EU, he said. “We haven’t achieved as much together as we could have done,” he said.

Mr Thomas-Symonds was critical of the former Conservative government, who, he said, “wasted years” undermining the European Court of Human Rights in pursuit of a “doomed” plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

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The promised reset of EU-UK relations should include closer co-operation on defence, energy supply, a deal on veterinary border checks, the mutual recognition of some professional qualifications and joint work tackling illegal immigration and smuggling networks, he said.

“In a more uncertain world, we are regularly reminded that allies are more secure together than they are apart,” he said. Mr Thomas-Symonds said it was “vital” the UK had rejoined the EU’s Horizon science research programme, something it should “never have left in the first place”.

“The UK and the EU have many mutually beneficial interests and I want to build on these as we work to reset our relationship,” he told a conference on EU-UK relations in Brussels organised by Forum Europe.

The minister was speaking the day after Mr Starmer joined a meeting of the 27 EU leaders in Brussels on Monday, the first a UK prime minister has attended since Britain’s exit from the EU.

The Labour leader made the case for an EU-UK defence and security pact during a working dinner with EU leaders.

EU officials and diplomats have stressed that any deal on defence would need to be part of a wider package. The EU is pushing for such a deal to include an agreement on fishing rights and a scheme allowing young people to move between the EU and UK to study and work for a number of years.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said work implementing the existing agreements setting the terms of the UK’s exit was ongoing and would “keep us busy”. The German politician added there was “so much more” that the two sides could together do on defence.

fficials are expected to start discussing details of the mooted reset. There will be an effort to land on some agreement in time for an EU-UK summit in May, where Mr Starmer will host EU leaders in Britain.

Jack Power

Jack Power

Jack Power is acting Europe Correspondent of The Irish Times