'New era' of UK-EU ties: What areas will they collaborate in?

The United Kingdom has agreed to majorly reset trade and defence ties with the European Union in a landmark reconcilliation on Monday, following US President Trump's economic impact on geopolitical relations worldwide.

Nearly nine years after the UK's acrimonious exit from the EU, termed as 'Brexit', it has now agreed on joint (defence) procurement projects as well as easier pathways for the UK's citizens and food shipments to reach the bloc.

The two sides were forced to reconcile after US President Donald Trump's far-reaching protectionist tariffs, which upended global trade, led to supply chain disruptions, increased geopolitical tensions—especially with tit-for-tat tariffs that the US and China engaged in—and specifically, plunged Europe into a state of uncertainty about their economic relations with the US.

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After lengthy negotiations, there were also deals agreed in fishing, electricity and Erasmus+, an EU programme launched to support education, training, youth and sport, as per a Guardian report that quoted Ursula Von der Leyen, the president of the EU Commission.

“It’s good for the stability of energy flows. It is good for our common energy security, because we know that a bigger market will also be good for lowering the energy prices, and it will attract more private investment because of the regulatory stability and predictability that is there to tap into the vast potential that the North Sea offers, specifically for renewable, cheap and homegrown energy.”

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This has pushed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer towards his European counterparts, in what he called a “new era”.

The government said that the reset would reduce red tape for food and agricultural producers, making food cheaper, improving energy security and adding nearly £9 billion ($12.1 billion) to the economy by 2040, a Reuters report said.

This is the third deal Britain has struck this month, following agreements with India and the US.

"It's time to look forward ... To move on from the stale old debates and political fights to find common sense, practical solutions which get the best for the British people,” Starmer said in a statement.

"We're ready to work with partners if it means we can improve people’s lives here at home."

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