After months of tense and last-minute negotiations, the UK and the European Union have finally struck a deal that brings Britain closer to the EU than it has been since the Brexit referendum.
This new agreement is being hailed by some as a step forward for trade and economic stability, but it’s also stirring up plenty of controversy — especially among those who feel the UK has compromised too much.
Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the deal, pointing to a potential £9 billion boost to the UK economy by 2040 thanks to reduced trade barriers.
But many critics are calling it a betrayal, accusing the government of surrendering key Brexit principles on issues like fishing rights, food standards, and the influence of EU courts.
Fishing Rights Extension Sparks Fierce Backlash
One of the most contentious parts of the deal is the fishing agreement.
European fishing boats will keep their existing access to British waters for another 12 years, a move that has sparked outrage among UK fishing communities.
Previously, under Boris Johnson’s 2021 deal, Britain was set to regain 25% of fishing rights from EU vessels.
The hope was that control would continue to shift back to the UK over time, especially after the current arrangement expires in 2026.
But this new deal locks in the EU’s access to 75% of pre-Brexit catch rights until 2038 — a significant concession that many see as a sell-out.
Reports say UK negotiators gave in after Brussels demanded this extension as a condition to ease trade barriers indefinitely.
UK fishing groups were caught off guard since ministers had only hinted at a possible four-year extension.
While the ban on exporting some shellfish like clams and mussels to the EU has been lifted — a win for some — the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation slammed the deal as a “horror show,” and political figures like Nigel Farage warned it could mark the “end of the fishing industry.”
Free Movement and Youth Exchange Plans Raise Eyebrows
The deal also opens the door for thousands more young people from over two dozen EU countries to live, work, and study in the UK under a new “youth experience scheme.”
This scheme is reciprocal, allowing UK young adults similar opportunities in the EU.
While the numbers will be capped and stays limited, the specifics are still to be negotiated.
Brexiteers have been quick to argue that this represents a backdoor return to freedom of movement, a core Brexit issue.
Additionally, the UK has agreed to discuss potentially rejoining the Erasmus student exchange program, which funds European study abroad opportunities.
This marks a significant step, despite British negotiators refusing Brussels’ demand for EU students to pay UK-level university fees.
Food Standards Alignment Raises Concerns About Sovereignty
A major part of the deal involves the UK committing to follow EU food and farming standards permanently.
This “dynamic alignment” is intended to cut down red tape and make it easier — and cheaper — to export animal and plant products like sausages and burgers to the EU again.
It also means British checks on EU food imports will be reduced.
While Downing Street says this will help reduce supermarket prices and ease trade, many Brexiteers see it as a blow to UK sovereignty.
The UK will now have to accept future EU laws in this sector and even take part in EU court rulings on disputes — a move critics say undermines the promise that Britain would set its own rules post-Brexit.
The deal does promise the UK will “have a say” in creating these rules, but how that influence will work remains unclear.
Meanwhile, the agreement will also simplify food exports from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, easing a previous point of tension.
Defence Cooperation and Security Links Deepen
Another key area in the agreement involves UK defence firms gaining potential access to a £125 billion EU fund designed to help member states boost military spending following the war in Ukraine.
Companies like BAE Systems, previously shut out, could benefit if the UK contributes financially, possibly hundreds of millions of pounds.
However, some Brexiteers worry this Defence and Security Partnership could draw the UK closer to EU military operations, fueling fears of involvement in a future “EU Army.”
Travel Benefits and Carbon Trading Alignments
On a lighter note, UK travellers will be able to use EU e-Gates again, cutting wait times at airports — though individual EU countries will decide if this applies.
This might seem small, but it’s a practical convenience that some welcome.
The UK will also align with the EU’s carbon emissions trading scheme.
This move helps British businesses avoid a costly new EU carbon tax on imports, potentially saving exporters up to £800 million in the first year.
Though it means higher costs for some UK firms, the deal reduces the risk of double charges on carbon emissions.
What Lies Ahead
This landmark agreement marks a complex and sometimes uncomfortable rapprochement between the UK and EU after years of Brexit turmoil.
While the deal promises economic gains and smoother trade, it also hands Brussels a degree of influence many had hoped to avoid.
Political and industry voices will no doubt continue debating whether this is pragmatic cooperation or a costly concession.
Further talks are expected to flesh out details on youth mobility, Erasmus participation, and defence cooperation.
The coming months will reveal how well this deal balances the UK’s desire for sovereignty with the practical needs of trade and security in a post-Brexit Europe.