The long-awaited UK-EU summit, aimed at 'resetting' relations and hammering out a post-Brexit deal, is finally set for July 22 in Brussels. The meeting has been beset by delays, primarily due to disagreements over the proposed youth mobility scheme – an agreement that would allow young people under 30 to work, travel, and study freely across both nations.
At the G7 meeting in Evian, European Council President António Costa reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation for shared security, resilience, and prosperity. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed these sentiments, highlighting his government's commitment to resetting relations and addressing pressing issues such as the cost of living, job creation, and opportunities for young people.
The youth mobility programme has proven a significant obstacle, with EU diplomats warning that any summit would be impossible without a satisfactory agreement on this scheme. They consider it one of their key 'red lines' in the negotiations, alongside other pressing demands such as restoring pre-Brexit home tuition fees for EU students in the UK.
Beyond youth mobility, discussions are expected to centre around a trade deal aimed at reducing bureaucracy and physical checks on UK food exports to the EU. This would involve aligning with EU standards, with some elements of this sanitary and phytosanitary agreement already underway. The UK has recently outlined plans to remove certain checks, anticipating their probable implementation next summer.
Further negotiations are also ongoing regarding an emissions trading system, which would see the UK align with the EU's rules – including penalties for products with high carbon emissions. While progress has been made on these issues, the stalemate over the youth experience programme remains the primary reason for repeated delays, pushing the summit back from May to late June, then early July, and now to late July.
Naomi Smith, head of pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain, highlighted the growing importance of the EU bloc, urging whomever leads Downing Street in July to acknowledge this. She suggested signalling an intention to pursue membership could generate the political will needed for a potential future rejoining.