Speed and good faith needed if Labour is to deliver benefits to the UK from warmer relations with the EU, writes David Martin
Which Minister will be key to the success or failure of Starmer’s government? Rachel Reeves with her pivotal role in delivering economic growth? Yvette Cooper tackling illegal migration and the far-right inspired riots? Jonathan Reynolds delivering on Labour’s manifesto commitment to cutting trade barriers? John Healy getting a defence a cooperation pact and upping our armed forces readiness for combat? Bridget Phillipson helping our universities avoid financial collapse?? Ed Miliband delivering net zero?
Nick Thomas-Symonds the Paymaster General could turn out to be the key individual that helps Labour achieve its objectives. Responsible for relations with the European Union, his ability to bring the U.K. and the EU closer will be crucial in securing much of what the Government has set out to achieve. There are some very important UK/EU policy areas in Thomas-Symonds’ portfolio that have the potential to significantly improve the UK’s economic prospects and political stability. Here are just a few examples.
Use the hiatus before EU Commission forms
As significant portion of illegal immigrants arrive in the U.K. via European Union member states, a closer working relationship with Brussels, through sharing intelligence information on smuggling gangs, would be a useful tool in humanely tackling this problem. The EU is working on improving cross border procurement for military equipment to get ‘more bang for its bucks.’ Being part of this could both create and protect defence jobs in the U.K. and reduce Government procurement costs.
Many of our Universities are in serious financial difficulty. Making it easier and more welcoming for EU students to study here would give them a significant boost. Joining the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which aims to deal with carbon leakage by adding a “green tax” to manufactured goods made outside the EU, would assist the fight against climate change and help the U.K. avoid potentially new barriers to trade.
None of this will be easy to negotiate and that is why it is essential for the U.K. to use the hiatus in Brussels between now and the formation of the new Commission in the Autumn to deliver on its expressed desire to improve relations.
The Financial Times recently reported that Brussels wanted to see existing commitments entered into by the U.K. fully implemented before moving on to new topics. Europe wants the existing deals on the rights of EU citizens living in the U.K. prior to Brexit to be applied by the Home Office and for the Windsor Agreement on Northern Ireland to be fully implemented.
A Cabinet Office spokesperson has indicated that the U.K. government is working on these issues, but demonstrating the UK’s good faith and accelerating negotiations so the UK sees early benefits means there is no time for tardiness.
Laying stronger foundations
If progress is made, then the conditions might be right in the Autumn to start working on a security pact which would be in the mutual interest of both parties. Efforts could then start on reducing trade barriers, with a veterinary agreement looking like the lowest hanging fruit. The Labour manifesto committed it to negotiate ‘a veterinary agreement to prevent unnecessary border checks and help tackle the cost of food’.
The EU might well engage in such negotiations but might look for a wider range of discussions. They might for example put back on the table the idea of a Youth Mobility scheme and that the U.K. should rejoin ERASMUS+. This should not frighten the Government but indeed should be welcomed given the boost it could provide for both our hospitality sector and higher education sector.
There is no quick fix for the U.K.’s relationship with the EU but delivering on commitments already made and moving on to achievable objectives can lay the foundations for a closer more integrated relationship. Failure could put Labour’s wider agenda in serious jeopardy.
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