The European Union and the United Kingdom intend to re‑negotiate their relationship quickly. Both sides have agreed to hold a summit before the UK’s parliamentary summer recess in July, involving EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to the Friday issue of “Handelsblatt”, which referred to several insiders.
Until that summit, the negotiations teams must produce concrete outcomes on new deals covering the Emissions Trading System (ETS), the electricity market, plant, animal and food safety standards (SPS), and defence cooperation. EU officials describe the timetable as “ambitious but achievable”.
Brussels and London originally set the path for closer ties at a May summit last year, and this year the review of the 2021 Brexit agreement will open a window to fine‑tune any remaining contested provisions.
To intensify pressure on the teams, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and UK Foreign Minister Nick Thomas‑Symonds have pledged to meet alternately in London and Brussels every two weeks leading up to the summit. Their next meeting is scheduled for Monday in Brussels.
