UK and EU sign post-Brexit deal

The UK and the EU reached a new deal on 19 May setting out post-Brexit relations on areas including fishing rights, trade and defence.

Fishing

The new deal will continue to give EU boats access to UK waters until 2038.

The 2020 Brexit deal, which saw the UK regain 25 per cent EU fishing quotas, was due to run out next year. The UK will continue to agree yearly quotas with the EU and Norway and issue licences to control who fishes in its waters.

A £360 million fishing and coastal growth fund was announced to invest in new technology and equipment.

Farming exports

In return for extending current fishing rules, the UK has secured a deal to reduce checks on food exports to the EU. Officials will drop some routine border checks on animal and plant shipments to and from the EU.

The new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement means the UK can sell raw burgers and sausages back into the EU for the first time since Brexit.

Defence and security

A formal UK-EU defence and security pact has been established.

UK and EU officials will meet every six months to talk about defence and foreign policy. Both sides will coordinate on sanctions, share more information and develop a space-related security policy.

The Government says the agreement “paves the way” for UK-based arms firms to access the Security Action for Europe (Safe) - a £150 billion EU fund providing loans for defence projects.

Youth experience scheme

The UK and the EU have agreed to co-operate further on a youth experience scheme, but this will be subject to further negotiations.

The Government says such a scheme “could see young people able to work and travel freely in Europe again” but would be “capped and time-limited”. It says the idea would mirror existing schemes the UK has with countries like Australia and New Zealand, where there is an annual quota of visas allowing people between the ages of 18 and 35 to work in each other’s countries for up to three years.

The UK is also negotiating to rejoin the Erasmus+ programme, which allows students to study or do an internship abroad.

Passport e-gates

British holidaymakers will be able to use e-gates at more European airports.

When Brexit ended freedom of movement, it changed the rules for people travelling to European countries. Now, British passport holders can’t use “EU/EEA/CH” lanes at EU border crossings

A new passport system will make it easier for UK pets to travel, ending the need for repeat vet certificates.

Carbon tax

The UK and EU will link their carbon markets to avoid taxes on carbon-intensive goods like steel and cement travelling between the UK and EU.

The Government says it will save £800 million in taxes and shield British steel from EU tariffs, thanks to a UK-only deal worth £25 million a year.

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