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As part of a post-Brexit relationship “reset,” the UK push praises open access to the EU’s single market, has been rejected by Brussels because of its fierce ahead of a key summit in London next month.
British Prime Minister Ir Kiel’s priorities had called for a mutual approval agreement with the EU for certification of product standards that would have reduced the deficit for British companies sending goods to the BLOC’s single market.
However, according to EU diplomats, there was a general agreement that France had rejected demand altogether and that the idea was a non-starter.
One EU diplomat said Friday: “That won’t happen. Switzerland has this, but it pays for the EU budget and accepts the freedom movement.”
The skirmish marks the beginning of a huge haggle between the UK and the EU, and both sides expect to intensify in the fall, with the aim of finalizing the deal by the end of the year.
The European Commission’s Chairperson Ancestors and Ursula von der Leyen this week said at the summit on May 19 that the country should agree to a security and defense agreement, opening the door for the UK to access the new EU defence fund.
To promote that deal, the UK was expected to agree to overthrow current EU fishing rights in British waters for years, bloc diplomats said further discussion on the issue could be postponed until after the next British election, expected in 2029.
Meanwhile, there is another summit communique that sets up a “common understanding” of potential elements of a wide range of transactions later in the year, covering issues such as youth mobility for the British in Europe, energy security, and easier movements.
According to EU diplomats, priorities for Brussels (formerly the Treasury Department Michael Elam) have asked that documents not be finalized until next month, in order to avoid “interference” in UK local elections.
According to senior EU diplomats, the UK has said it has “questioned” three Brussels as two aspects are about to be formulated to develop documents that form the basis for negotiations for side jobs.
EU countries were briefed last week by the European Commission in consultation with the UK and responded calmly to three UK demands, including contracts to combat illegal migration, measures to improve access to tour artists and an agreement on the certification of industrial products.
EU officials reported that Brussels sent a clear signal that the BLOC did not provide the UK with what is called mutual recognition.
The diplomat said Brussels’ denial refers to the limits of the UK’s ability to remove trade barriers with the EU, but said it is stuck on the red line by not rejoining the single market or re-entering with customs.
They also warned of so-called returns agreements. There, illegal British immigrants were sent back to the EU countries that first entered the bloc, and rarely received concerns about immigration in member countries.
In recent weeks, the UK and France have been reported by the Financial Times, with regard to repayment agreements for migrants deported from the UK in exchange for France sending another individual backwards.
However, there is skepticism that can extend such transactions to multilateral agreements.
The UK is seeking contracts to improve access to UK tour artists and musicians following intense lobbying from the industry, rejecting a vast version of the EU youth mobility scheme for young people aged 18 to 30 years olds.
The star included such a deal in Labour’s 2024 election manifesto, despite the European Commission already warning that the factor of single market access should be improved by improving access to musicians and their equipment.
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EU diplomats have not completely ruled out concessions to the UK by member states pledged to promote artist visas. Upon migration, British citizens may also be granted access to automated E-Gate upon arrival at EU airports.
According to EU officials, ELAM told EU negotiators that it must close with a quota to control the youth mobility scheme. The UK pointed out that programs similar to countries like Canada were capped.
A UK government spokesperson said, “We are not providing running commentary on our discussions with the EU. These are ongoing and covering a wide range of issues.”
