EU-UK relations

UK and Spain inch forward on Gibraltar deal

Officials continue to inch towards an agreement on the status of Gibraltar, the rocky enclave at the southernmost tip of Spain, following the latest round of talks in London between officials from the UK, Gibraltar, Spain and the European Commission on Thursday and Friday (26,27 January).

Brexit cost 330,000 drop in UK labour force, new research finds

Brexit has resulted in the loss of 330,000 workers from the UK economy, according to new research published on Tuesday (17 January). 

Seeking Northern Ireland solution, UK foreign minister hosts EU talks

British foreign minister James Cleverly will on Monday (9 January) seek to inject fresh momentum into talks with the EU on resolving disputes over a post-Brexit trade relationship when he hosts the European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič in London.

The European Political Community: Space for dialogue or photo opportunity?

Europe’s newest forum will need momentum to bring concrete results for member states, several scenarios for its future being possible, writes Sir Michael Leigh.

UK settlement scheme for EU nationals ‘unlawful’, court rules

The UK government’s Settlement Scheme for EU nationals living in the UK has been declared unlawful in a major court ruling on Wednesday (21 December). 

Patient safety at risk, UK ministers warned as healthcare staff strike

British health sector bosses warned the government on Tuesday (20 December) of the risk to patient safety from a wave of industrial action as ambulance workers prepared to walk out and nurses threatened further strikes in a dispute over pay.

UK ministers hail 30,000 extra tonnes of fish under post-Brexit deal

UK ministers have proclaimed that the latest fishing quota agreement with the EU will allow British fishers to catch 30,000 more tonnes of fish in 2023 than would have been possible before Brexit. 

EU agrees new law to impose Brexit sanctions

EU lawmakers on Wednesday (30 November) finalised a law that will allow the bloc to take retaliatory measures including sanctions against the UK if it refuses to implement the terms of the Brexit agreement.  

Brexit compounded UK’s shortage of doctors, says study

Brexit has compounded a shortage of doctors in Britain, with an estimated shortfall of 4,000 in major speciality areas from EU countries, a study published Sunday (27 November) said.

UK defends Brexit plans as net migration surges

Britain's government insisted Thursday (24 November) that Brexit would pay off, even as new figures showed record levels of immigration six years after the country voted to quit the EU.

Beware of kites flying in Westminster 

Dear readers, Welcome to EU Politics Decoded where Benjamin Fox and Eleonora Vasques bring you a round-up of the latest political news in Europe and beyond every Thursday. In this edition, we look at the prospects of the UK’s relationship with the EU changing in...

Explainer: Scottish independence: After Supreme Court defeat, what options are left?

After the UK Supreme Court on Wednesday (23 November) rejected an argument that the Scottish government can pass legislation allowing it to hold a second independence referendum next year, can Scottish First Minister Nicola  Sturgeon still hold a new referendum?

UK retailers look to EU as egg sector cracks under pressure

The UK egg market is cracking under the strain of mounting costs as the sector battles one of the worst-ever outbreaks of avian flu, leading supermarkets to ration eggs and look towards the EU to fill the market gap.

UK plans to scrap thousands of EU laws ‘unfit for purpose’

The UK government’s plans to give ministers the ability to tear up around 2400 pieces of EU law on the UK statute have been dismissed as ‘unfit for purpose’ by the government’s own regulation watchdog. 

Sunak denies plans for Swiss-style EU deal

Rishi Sunak sought to quash reports that the UK will soon seek to re-open talks on its relationship with the EU, insisting that life outside the EU is "already delivering enormous benefits and opportunities" for the country. 

British, Irish leaders bid to resolve N.Ireland Brexit dispute

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday (10 November) hosted his Irish counterpart, Micheal Martin, as they bid to end a dispute over post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland that has stymied power-sharing.

EU imposes meeting ban on UK officials

EU officials have been urged not to hold meetings with UK counterparts unless they are strictly related to the war in Ukraine or are ‘legally mandatory’, in the latest indication of frosty relations between Brussels and London. 

Britain to reclaim access to EU research programmes

London will Monday (7 November) urge Brussels to unblock access to European scientific programmes for British researchers, which it says is provided for in the post-Brexit trade deal.

Post-Brexit settlement scheme leaves EU nationals at risk of deportation, court told

The UK’s ‘settlement scheme’ for EU nationals living and working in Britain risks leaving 2.6 million people at unlawful risk of deportation, lawyers told the High Court in London. 

Tory debacle should serve as a cautionary tale for Europe’s right-wing parties 

The downfall of Britain's conservatives shows that governments shouldn’t embrace unfunded tax cuts, nor emulate populists to lure back supporters, writes Carla Subirana Artús.

Northern Ireland moves closer to fresh elections over post-Brexit impasse

Northern Ireland on Thursday (27 October) appeared headed for a second election this year after the leader of the pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party said his grouping had not changed its position on contentious post-Brexit trade rules.

British meat industry warns new red tape could hammer exports to EU

New UK government regulations set to come into force in December could prevent thousands of British meat producers from exporting to the European Union, the industry warned on Tuesday (25 October).

Sunak favourite to be UK PM after Johnson drops comeback bid

Rishi Sunak looked set to become Britain's next prime minister after Boris Johnson withdrew from the contest, saying that although he had enough support to make the final ballot he realised the country and the Conservative Party needed unity.

More chaos in UK as Truss quits, becomes shortest serving PM

Liz Truss became the shortest-ever serving UK prime minister after resigning on Thursday (20 October)  after just 45 days in office.