Großbritannien und EU: Fünf Kernbereiche für eine Annäherung – wie weit geht der neue britische Premier?

In the wake of the Brexit decision, Britain and the EU are taking a fresh approach to closer political and economic ties, ten years later. New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized the importance of being "braver" in building a closer relationship with the Union during a recent meeting with António Costa, the President of the European Council, in Kiev.

Burnham highlighted the areas where Britain and Europe have already collaborated closely, including defense and security. The goal now is to enhance cooperation in key EU sectors such as trade and free movement of persons. Diplomats and EU officials hope that Burnham will focus on issues where his predecessor Keir Starmer's negotiations stalled, particularly free movement for young Europeans.

Both sides aim to reach an agreement in five areas by an EU-Britain summit in November: easing trade with agricultural products, linking Britain's electricity markets with the EU's ETS, implementing steel quotas and tariffs on electric cars, and an agreement on youth mobility and tuition fees at Cambridge, LSE, and Oxford universities for Europeans.

The youth mobility program has become a contentious point, reflecting the seriousness with which Burnham intends to reapproach the EU. The EU insists that EU students at British universities should receive the same treatment and pay lower tuition fees as British students. A successful agreement in this area would be a significant success for Brussels.