The European Union and the United Kingdom have reached a pivotal agreement covering key sectors including defence, fisheries, and food trade, in what EU Council President António Costa described as “a new chapter in our relationship.” The deal, unanimously backed by all 27 EU members, is set to be formalised at a high-level summit in London between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Costa.
Fisheries deal ensures 12-year access to UK waters
At the heart of the agreement is the extension of fishing rights in British waters for EU fishers, including those from Denmark and France. Despite initial UK resistance tied to Brexit-era sovereignty concerns, the deal secures 12 more years of access under largely unchanged conditions.
Danish fishing associations welcomed the outcome. Svend-Erik Andersen, chairman of Danmarks Fiskeriforening (Danish Fishermen’s Association), highlighted the importance of “stable framework conditions” for the industry, calling the agreement a step toward long-term predictability.
The arrangement also benefits the UK, which will enjoy easier food exports to the EU—a significant relief for British producers hindered by post-Brexit customs and regulatory checks.
Strategic defence partnership takes shape
In a move echoing existing EU agreements with Norway, the UK and the EU have also entered into a strategic partnership on defence and security. This includes cooperation on hybrid warfare, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure resilience, and maritime safety.
The deal opens the door for the UK to participate in joint EU procurement programmes, although access to the EU’s proposed SAFE programme—a fund worth €150 billion aimed at strengthening European defence—will require further negotiation. The SAFE programme itself has yet to be fully ratified within the EU.
Broader cooperation in sight
In addition to the immediate agreements, the EU and UK have signalled intentions to work together on energy, migration, law enforcement, and mobility. Talks leading to the agreement were described by EU officials as constructive, with neither side crossing their “red lines,” suggesting a foundation for smoother relations moving forward.
Although not all issues are fully resolved—such as disputes over specific fishing quotas—the agreement marks the most substantial reset in UK-EU relations since Brexit. As Jens Schneider Rasmussen of Danmarks Pelagiske Producent Organisation noted, the current deal does not prevent future UK-imposed restrictions, but “anything that normalises the relationship is welcome.”
For both sides, the pact signals a mutual interest in rebuilding trust, improving cooperation, and delivering tangible benefits to their citizens in sensitive post-Brexit sectors.
