UK offers EU strategic partnership to boost trade and security
A draft declaration being drawn up by London and Brussels ahead of a UK-EU summit on 19 May points to a 'common understanding' on a number of shared interests.
EU ambassadors will meet in Brussels on Wednesday for a briefing from officials who have spent the past few months in a 'tunnel' working on the areas where agreement could be reached over the next year.
A defence and security pact that would see closer cooperation on Ukraine is top of the shopping list along with migration, which is a hot topic on both sides of the English channel.
The French are determined to carve out new arrangements on fishing but diplomatic sources say there will be no change for the time being.
Several EU capitals are pushing for a 'youth experience' programme, which would allow people from the EU to spend at least 12 months in Britain under a reciprocal visa programme that would not add to migration figures.
The draft communique being finessed by officials is designed to be the basis of a political declaration and framework for talks over the range of issues.
'We confirmed our shared principles of maintaining global economic stability and our mutual commitment to free and open trade,' the draft noted. It added that the sides would continue working 'on how we can mitigate the impact of fluctuations in the global economic order'.
However, the summit comes as the UK continues tariff negotiations with the US in the hope of carving out a special deal. Britain is facing a 10% tariff, while the EU faces 20%.
Ahead of a meeting with the prime minister, Keir Starmer, last week, the leader of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, called for a drive to unlock investment for renewables in the North Sea.
'We are friends. And we are Europeans. It means that we share interests and democratic values. And that we are ready to face global challenges as like-minded partners,' von der Leyen said after their meeting.
Sign up to Headlines UK
Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning
after newsletter promotion
Downing Street declined to comment on the text but said it was in line with the UK's objectives.
Starmer's spokesperson said: 'The prime minister's being clear that there are significant benefits to be had by having a better partnership with the EU in terms of jobs, British businesses, reducing trade barriers, driving growth and keeping us safe in an increasingly dangerous world. So you'd expect us to be discussing a wide range of issues with the EU and obviously get an update on that at the summit.
'The prime minister has spoken extensively recently about the benefits of free and open trade and the fact that we're looking to strengthen alliances around the world to reduce barriers to trade, working with other economies. And that is actually a feature of our discussions, not just with the EU, but the US, India, and other countries as well.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Rachel Reeves admits Labour has ‘disappointed' people while in government
Rachel Reeves admits Labour has 'disappointed' people while in government. The politician said she understood that being Chancellor meant making unpopular decisions. She told an audience at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival that Labour had got the balance right between tax, spending and borrowing. But she said that balancing the books meant making tough decisions, even if the are unpopular. Appearing on the Iain Dale All Talk fringe show, she said: 'The reason people voted Labour at the last election is they want to change and they were unhappy with the way that the country was being governed. 'They know that we inherited a mess. They know it's not easy to put it right, but people are impatient for change. 'I'm impatient for change as well, but I've also got the job of making sure the sums always add up – and it doesn't always make you popular because you can't do anything you might want to do. You certainly can't do everything straight away, all at once.' Ms Reeves pointed to Labour's £200 million investment in carbon capture in the north east of Scotland, which she said was welcomed by the industry. At the same time, Labour's windfall tax, she said, was not liked by the sector. 'I can understand that that's extra tax that the oil and gas sector are paying, but you can't really have one without the other,' she said. Defending Labour's record, she said her party had the 'balance about right'. 'But of course you're going to disappoint people,' she added. 'No-one wants to pay more taxes. 'Everyone wants more money than public spending – and borrowing is not a free option, because you've got to pay for it. 'I think people know those sort of constraints, but no-one really likes them and I'm the one, I guess, that has to sort the sums up.' Ms Reeves said Labour had to deliver on its general election campaign of change, adding that her party did not 'deserve' to win the next election if it does not deliver the change it promised.
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
Rare KitKat bar spotted back on UK shelves as Sainsbury's shoppers fill trolleys with ‘brilliant' flavour
A RARE KitKat bar has been spotted back on UK shelves by eagle-eyed shoppers. The unique bar has sent chocolate fans running to the supermarket to fill their trolleys with the "brilliant" new flavour. 2 This exciting sweet treat can be found in Sainsbury's for £1 a bar. The rare flavour goes by the name KitKat Chunky Funky and is Nestle's latest limited edition bar. The sought-after snack features a cocoa wafer in a marbled milk chocolate and white coating. Shoppers have been quick to express their excitement with one describing the chocolate as "absolutely brilliant." While another added: "Oh I need to get to the shop." KitKat isn't the only brand to recently launch a new flavour, as another popular confectionery brand has just released an all new caramel edition of their cult classic treat. Terry's have launched a chocolate caramel which is exclusive to the co-op for now. Shoppers were also quick to spot two new chocolate bars on shop shelves last month. Cadbury's released a new Bournville dark chocolate which became an instant hit among nut fans. A spokesperson said: "We're excited to be introducing two delicious new flavours to our Cadbury Bournville range, Salted Caramel and Chopped Hazelnut. "We're excited to be introducing two delicious new flavours to our Cadbury Bournville range, Salted Caramel and Chopped Hazelnut." How to save money on chocolate We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar. Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs... Go own brand - if you're not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you'll save by going for the supermarket's own brand bars. Shop around - if you've spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it's cheaper elsewhere. Websites like let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you're getting the best deal. Look out for yellow stickers - supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they've been reduced. They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged. Buy bigger bars - most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar. So if you've got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.
Reuters
11 minutes ago
- Reuters
India to maintain Russian oil imports despite Trump threats, government sources say
NEW DELHI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - India will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of penalties, two Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday, not wishing to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. On top of a new 25% tariff on India's exports to the U.S., Trump indicated in a Truth Social post last month that India would face additional penalties for purchases of Russian arms and oil. On Friday, Trump told reporters he had heard that India would no longer be buying oil from Russia. But the sources said there would be no immediate changes. "These are long-term oil contracts," one of the sources said. "It is not so simple to just stop buying overnight." Justifying India's oil purchases from Russia, a second source said India's imports of Russian grades had helped avoid a global surge in oil prices, which have remained subdued despite Western curbs on the Russian oil sector. Unlike Iranian and Venezuelan oil, Russian crude is not subject to direct sanctions, and India is buying it below the current price cap fixed by the European Union, the source said. The New York Times also quoted two unnamed senior Indian officials on Saturday as saying there had been no change in Indian government policy. Indian government authorities did not respond to Reuters' request for official comment on its oil purchasing intentions. However, during a regular press briefing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has a "steady and time-tested partnership" with Russia. "On our energy sourcing requirements ... we look at what is there available in the markets, what is there on offer, and also what is the prevailing global situation or circumstances," he said. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump, who has made ending Russia's war in Ukraine a priority of his administration since returning to office this year, has expressed growing impatience with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent weeks. He has threatened 100% tariffs on U.S. imports from countries that buy Russian oil unless Moscow reaches a major peace deal with Ukraine. Russia is the leading supplier to India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, accounting for about 35% of its overall supplies. India imported about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil from January to June this year, up 1% from a year ago, according to data provided to Reuters by sources. But while the Indian government may not be deterred by Trump's threats, sources told Reuters this week that Indian state refiners stopped buying Russian oil after July discounts narrowed to their lowest since 2022 - when sanctions were first imposed on Moscow - due to lower Russian exports and steady demand. Indian Oil Corp ( opens new tab, Hindustan Petroleum Corp ( opens new tab, Bharat Petroleum Corp ( opens new tab and Mangalore Refinery Petrochemical Ltd ( opens new tab have not sought Russian crude in the past week or so, four sources told Reuters. Nayara Energy - a refinery majority-owned by Russian entities, including oil major Rosneft ( opens new tab, and major buyer of Russian oil - was recently sanctioned by the EU. Nayara's chief executive resigned following the sanctions, and three vessels laden with oil products from Nayara Energy have yet to discharge their cargoes, hindered by the new EU sanctions, Reuters reported last week.
