EU Opens Door to Enhanced Brexit Trade Deal with UK as Brussels Signals Pragmatic Reset

Manfred Weber, the influential President of the European People’s Party, has indicated that the European Union is now open to negotiating a more beneficial and pragmatic trade agreement with the United Kingdom. Speaking in Berlin, Mr Weber announced that the long-standing Brexit conflict was ‘definitely’ over, crediting recent government changes in Westminster and a renewed willingness to collaborate.

The Labour Government, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has already initiated a new phase in UK-EU relations through a reset deal agreed earlier this year. This agreement included significant commitments: guaranteeing EU fishermen access to British waters for twelve years, aligning the UK with European plant and animal health standards, and subjecting certain sectors to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. These terms facilitate freer movement of goods across borders and reduce customs checks — measures which, while criticised by some as too lenient towards Brussels, are seen by others as the pragmatic solution required to steady trade and end the Brexit impasse.

Mr Weber, who leads the European Parliament’s largest political group and wields considerable influence over bloc policy, stressed the necessity of closing the emotional chapter of Brexit. ‘Nobody today is stronger than we were before,’ he observed, adding that an unambiguous respect for decisions taken, and a focus on practical future solutions, were vital. He suggested that the UK and EU both stand to benefit from renewed economic cooperation and growth, saying, ‘We believe in open markets and are always ready to find solutions and compromises where mutual benefit exists.’

Labour has openly sought to renegotiate elements of the original Trade and Cooperation Agreement struck by Boris Johnson, seeking terms better suited to British industry and consumers. The European Commission, responsible for negotiations on behalf of the member states, has historically approached changes with caution, wary of perceived ‘cherry-picking’. Yet, with Mr Weber hinting that the EU’s dominant parties are prepared for dialogue, prospects for a more tailored UK-EU economic partnership have notably improved.

The reset deal also included a joint defence pact and a pledge to participate in EU joint procurement initiatives, signalling a shift not only in trade, but also in security cooperation. Mr Weber praised Britain’s constructive involvement in European defence discussions and its pivotal role in Ukraine policy, highlighting areas where collaborative interests run deep.

For the first time since the 2016 referendum, negotiators on both sides appear eager to consign the antagonisms of the past to history. Sir Keir Starmer, summarising the new approach, called for ‘common-sense, practical solutions’ that advance British interests while forging a less combative, more productive partnership with the EU. As trade talks are set to continue, business leaders and financial analysts will be watching closely to see whether this improved atmosphere generates lasting benefits for both Britain and Europe.