UK-EU summit live updates: Starmer unveils post-Brexit ‘reset’ with deal struck on food and e-gates but is accused of betrayal over handing Brussels fishing rights for 12 YEARS

Keir Starmer is about to speak at a press conference with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

We will bring you the key lines as and when we can.

Starmer has claimed his post-Brexit ‘reset’ will cut red tape for travellers and businesses, boosting the economy by £9 billion by 2040.

Under the deal struck with Brussels, more tourists will be able to use e-gates at airports in Europe, pet passports will be introduced for UK cats and dogs and businesses can sell burgers and sausages into the bloc again.

But the Prime Minister faced accusations of betraying Brexit over the extension of fishing rights for European vessels for a further 12 years and closer ties to EU rules.

Measures agreed today include:

• A 12-year extension of fishing arrangements when the current deal ends, allowing European vessels to operate in UK waters under the same terms until 2038.
• An open-ended new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to slash red tape on food and drink exports and imports between the UK and EU.
• Some routine checks on plant and animal products will be removed completely and British burgers and sausages will once more be allowed into the EU.
• Linking UK and EU emissions-trading schemes which will mean British firms will not be hit by Brussels’ carbon tax next year.
• A security and defence partnership will pave the way for UK arms firms to bid for work under the EU’s proposed new £150 billion security action for Europe (Safe) fund.
• The UK and EU have agreed to co-operate on a “youth experience scheme”, but British officials insisted numbers would be capped and stays would be time-limited.
• British steel exports will be protected from new EU rules and restrictive tariffs, saving the beleaguered industry £25 million.

Keir Starmer ignited a major new Brexit row today as he signed a new deal with the EU that brings Britain back closer to the bloc.

The Prime Minister was accused of ‘surrender’ by hardliners after it emerged it includes allowing EU fishing boats, mainly from France and the Netherlands, to trawl UK waters for a further 12 years.

The current deal agreed by Boris Johnson expires in 2026 but under the terms of the deal approved today they will now be allowed in to take fish until 2038.

See details of the Prime Minister’s deal here:

British holidaymakers will be able to use more eGates in the EU and pets will be able to travel more easily under the Brexit reset deal.

At the moment, EU citizens can use e-Gates in the UK – but British passport holders cannot use European e-Gates, aside from a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal.

The changes will come into effect after the introduction of the ‘European Union Entry/Exit System’ which aims to make border checks in the Schengen area more secure.

The new system is expected to start in October 2025, but it is not clear how long after this that Britons will be able to start using e-Gates.

Ministers hope holidaymakers will benefit from reduced queues at border control as a result of the changes.

The agreement will also enable pets to travel more easily, with the introduction of ‘pet passports’ for UK cats and dogs – eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said the announcement was ‘a significant breakthrough for British travellers’.

Britain has agreed to follow EU food and farming rules forever in return for cuts in red tape which ministers say will cut prices in supermarkets.

The new deal will tear up most of the EU food and farming checks imposed after Brexit, ending the so-called ‘sausage wars’ which made it hard for British food producers to export to the continent.

British checks on EU food will also be reduced in a move which No 10 said would ‘make food cheaper’.

In return, the UK will have to follow almost all EU rules on food and farming standards. Controversially, this will include adopting new EU laws in the sector in future. This so-called ‘dynamic alignment’ will make the UK a ‘rule taker’, undermining one of the key principles of Brexit that the UK should set its own laws.

Britain will also have to accept the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in settling any disputes.

And the UK has agreed to make an ‘appropriate financial contribution’ to the EU budget to help cover the cost of relevant Brussels agencies.

The move is likely to be welcomed by food producers who have faced a blizzard of red tape since Brexit. It will also ease the rules on sending food produce from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Downing Street said the deal, couple with an agreement on carbon emissions, could eventually be worth £9 billion to the economy.

The leaked text of the deal states it is ‘in the mutual interest’ to ‘deepen our people-to-people ties, particularly for the younger generation’.

It proposes a ‘youth experience scheme’ so that young people can move between the EU and UK for ‘such as work, studies, au-pairing, volunteering, or simply travelling’.

There will be a ‘dedicated visa path’ and participants would only be allowed to live overseas ‘for a limited period of time’, while the numbers involved would have to be ‘acceptable to both sides’.

But there is no more detail with ‘terms to be agreed’ between the two sides at a later date.

There is no mention of an exact limit on numbers arriving but Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds assured LBC this morning: ‘There is a cap on all of these schemes.’

He pointed out that only 24,000 visas were issued by the UK last year across the 13 existing exchange schemes with countries around the world including Australia.

Britain and the EU have today agreed a new security and defence partnership that will open up a major EU rearmament investment scheme to UK firms.

The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative has been set up by Brussels following Donald Trump’s threats to scrap American security guarantees for the continent.

The multi-billion fund will allow EU member states to take out loans for weapons from funds raised against the EU budget.

But there are strict rules on where arms can be purchased from, with initial fears that British defence firms would be excluded from the fund.

France was leading efforts to keep UK firms like Babcock out, or at least limit the extent its firms could bid, as it seeks to protect its own companies.

France was leading efforts to keep the UK out, or at least limit the extent its firms could bid, as it seeks to protect its own companies.

Some fear the Defence and Security Partnership could mean British servicemen taking part in EU civilian and military operations.

And a diplomatic source yesterday told The Mail on Sunday Britain could have to pay ‘hundreds of millions’ for access.

British travellers will be able to use e-gates in Europe, pet passports will be introduced for UK cats and dogs and businesses can sell burgers and sausages into the EU again as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘reset’ deal with Brussels, No10 said.

We’ve now received more comments remarks from Keir Starmer at the UK-EU summit at Lancaster House.

The Prime Minister said the summit was about ‘moving on from stale old debates’ and ‘following through on what the British public voted for last year’.

This is the first UK-EU summit, and it marks a new era in our relationship. It’s really good that we’re able to meet around this table for this summit, the first of what will be of many summits as we progress through this new era.

We on this side are following through on what the British public voted for last year and the mission of this government to deliver security and renewal for our country and improve the lives of working people in uncertain times – a new era for defence, security and trade.

We will do that by strengthening our relationships with allies around the world, including, of course, with Europe. So that is what today is all about, moving on from stale old debates, looking forward, not backwards, focusing on what we can do together to deliver in the national interest.

I want to thank the negotiating teams on both sides, and I want to thank all of you for your engagement on this. The documents that we have before us today represent a strong package that will benefit all of our peoples. We must now move swiftly together on the detailed work to make these plans a reality.

We’re expecting a number of agreements to be reached today.

The two sides will likely ink the ‘Security and Defence Partnership’ – arguably the highlight of today’s sit-down between Starmer and von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and chief diplomat Kaja Kallas.

Two other documents are set to be signed – a joint statement of European solidarity from the EU-UK leaders’ summit and a Common Understanding on topics from trade to fishing and youth mobility.

Under the final agreement, Britain will keep its waters open for European fishermen for 12 years after the current deal expires in 2026, in return for the 27-nation bloc indefinitely easing red tape on food imports from the UK, diplomats said.

On youth mobility, negotiators agreed to general wording that leaves the haggling for later.

The issue is another main source of friction, with London fearing any youth mobility scheme could spell a return to freedom of movement between the EU and the UK.

And Starmer, who has vowed to battle rising irregular immigration, is approaching the issue cautiously amid soaring support for Nigel Farage’s hard-right anti-immigration and Eurosceptic party Reform UK.

Here are the latest photographs we can show you from Lancaster House where Keir Starmer is hosting a UK-EU summit.

Talks are taking place following a post-Brexit agreement between the UK and EU to reset relations following Brexit.

We’re expecting a press conference at about 12:30pm.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation insisted that the new deal ‘is a horror show for Scottish fishermen’.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Scottish Government criticised UK ministers for the inclusion of fisheries – an area where responsibility is devolved to Holyrood – in the agreement without its approval on this.

Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson blasted the UK for having agreed a fisheries deal in principle ‘without any recourse, involvement or approval of devolved administrations”’.

He insisted that Scottish ministers had received no documentation on this in advance from their UK counterparts – as he questioned whether Labour’s promised ‘reset’ of relations between Westminster and the devolved administrations had been achieved.

Scottish Government received no documentation or draft proposals in advance. I asked UK minister last week for this. Nothing received. Reset?

In his opening remarks at the UK-EU summit, Starmer hailed a ‘new strategic partnership’ with the European Union five years after Britain left the 27-country bloc.

He said it ‘marks a new era in our relationship… We are agreeing a new strategic partnership fit for our times, providing real, tangible benefits.’

EU Comission President Urusla von der Leyen has said today marks a ‘real chance’ to turn the page on Britain’s relationship with the European Union.

She posted on her X account shortly after meeting Keir Starmer at a summit in London where details of a new deal will be announced.

European fishing vessels will be given a further 12 years of access to British waters as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘reset’ with Brussels.

A late-night deal was struck with the European Union ahead of today’s major summit with Brussels chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa.

The agreement means European vessels will enjoy the same post-Brexit access they have had until 2038, 12 years after the current arrangement expires.

Other issues under discussion included defence and security and deals on allowing British travellers to use e-gates at European airports.

MailOnline has looked at what we know so far:

The deal between the UK and EU is expected to mean British travellers can use e-gates at European airports, which aims to ensure tourists no longer face huge queues when arriving on holiday.

While this agreement is set to be approved by Brussels, it will then be up to individual EU countries to bring in the policy.

Keir Starmer has been asked whether he has ‘sold out the fish’ amid reports of a late concession to the EU over access to fishing in British waters.

EU fishing boats will be guaranteed access to UK waters on the current terms for 12 years, after the French mounted a last-minute ambush demanding longer guarantees.

Ministers are due to announce a £360million fund to help appease furious coastal communities.

But Kemi Badenoch pointed out that 12 years of fishing rights would be three times longer than the government originally wanted. ‘We’re becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again,’ she warned.

Nigel Farage said it would be ‘the end of the fishing industry’.

Under the terms of Boris Johnson’s 2020 Brexit deal, the EU gave up 25 per cent of its fishing quotas – phased up to 2026.

From next year there were due to be annual negotiations, which the UK fishing industry hoped would provide leverage to restore its hold.

However, quotas could now be frozen until at least 2038.

Here’s what we understand will be included in the deal between the UK and EU at today’s summit in London:

• Status quo access to UK fishing waters until June 2038
• Checks on British lorries taking food to the continent lifted permanently
• UK accepting ‘dynamic’ alignment with food rules
• Britain to join Erasmus+ scheme and have talks on ‘youth mobility’ scheme
• Brit travellers able to use e-gates at European airports
• British firms get access to huge EU defence contracts fund, in return for payments
• A Security and Defence Partnership

Starmer and Euorpean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen have greeted one another outside Lancaster House as the UK-EU summit gets under way.

We’re expecting to receive details of the deal agreed between Britain and the European Union and a press conference to take place later.

Von der Leyen was joined by António Costa, the head of the European Council

Stick with us for the latest updates throughout the day.

Ahead of arriving at Lancaster House this morning, Starmer said he wanted to ‘move on’ from the ‘stale’ political debates over Brexit.

However, concerns are running high over the price that the UK has had to pay in return for smoother trade.

EU fishing boats will be guaranteed access to UK waters on the current terms for 12 years, after the French mounted a last-minute ambush demanding longer guarantees. Ministers are due to announce a £360million fund to help appease furious coastal communities.

Sir Keir is also expected to sign the UK up to the Erasmus+ scheme, although he could stop short of immediately confirming a ‘youth mobility’ arrangement giving millions of Europeans rights to live, study and work here for up to three years.

In return, the deal would see checks on lorries taking food to the continent lifted permanently – ending the so-called ‘sausage wars – but the UK will have to obey some Brussels rules.

Defence firms will also gain access to a £126billion EU-wide weapons fund, although British taxpayers face having to pay millions for the privilege.

Brit tourists are set to be spared queues when travelling to the continent, with permission to use e-gates at European airports. And ministers have hinted that red tape on taking pets abroad could be eased.

Some of the issues are likely to be fudged, with commitments to keep talking and finalise details later.

Keir Starmer has arrived at Lancaster House for the UK-EU summit as he prepares to unveil Britain’s post-Brexit ‘reset’ with the European Union.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrived shortly after.

Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray stood outside the venue playing music as they entered.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has described the UK’s post-Brexit deal with the EU has a ‘really big day’ which will help bring good jobs to the country.

Hosting a reception for business owners in Number 11 this morning, Ms Reeves said:

A couple of weeks ago we secured really ground breaking trade agreements with both India and the United States, so we have some of the best trading relationships with those countries of any country in the world.

But our biggest trading partners are our friends in the European Union, and for too long it’s been too difficult to export, to bring in talent, to trade with our nearest neighbours. That’s not good enough.

The deal today is about bringing more good jobs to our country, it’s about reducing prices in the shops for consumers and crucially its about our defence partnership with our allies.

Conservative peer Lord Rose said the Government’s deal with the EU was a ‘win’ and describing as a surrender is ‘pathetic’.

The former chairman of Marks & Spencer told Times Radio:

It has to be a win… it’s five years since we did the deal in 2020. But in reality, look what has happened in the world since then. There’s been massive global change. And the UK is finding itself increasingly stranded now. And we’ve got to find a role for ourselves.

No it’s nonsense. I really am quite disappointed and sad that I live in a country, you know, I am a Conservative, although I am not a politically active Conservative, I’m not a politician.

But to hear that the Conservatives are saying we must be rule givers and not rule takers. It’s about giving a bit, taking a bit, and understanding this is a very difficult, unpleasant world we live in. And we’ve got to make sure that for the UK public and for the UK, we do our best. That’s what we elect our politicians to do. That’s what I expect them to do. And talking about small things like surrender is pathetic.

At around 10:15am, the EU’s top diplomats and Keir Starmer are expected to convene at Lancaster House to sign a deal intended to ‘reset’ relations following the UK’s withdrawal from Brexit.

Starmer has said he wants a closer relationship with Britain’s biggest trading partner without rejoining the 27-nation bloc following a divisive referendum in 2016 in which the country voted to leave.

The government insist the deal will help reduce bills for UK consumers and increase border security but critics argue the UK is ceding sovereignty by agreeing to abide by EU rules once again.

Starmer will host the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

We are expecting a press conference at around 12:30pm.

Reform leader Nigel Farage has said the UK-EU deal will mark the ‘end of the fishing industry’ following reports European trawlers will be allowed to use British waters for 12 years.

It comes after Ms Badenoch said details of the deal were ‘very concerning’ ahead of a summit in London this morning.

Conservatives have reacted furiously to reports the UK will allow the EU to fish in British waters for 12 years as details of the upcoming deal emerged.

Andrew Bowie, who was interviewed earlier on BBC Breakfast, posted on X:

If it is true that Labour has surrendered British waters to the EU until 2038, that is worse than a surrender, it is a total capitulation.

While Harriet Cross, MP for Gordon and Buchan, added:

If this morning’s reports are true that Labour have given the EU access to UK fishing waters until 2038, this isn’t a just a betrayal, it’s a complete abandonment of our fishing fleets.

*this article is available only to Mail + readers – to subscribe click here*

Almost a decade ago, the British people voted decisively to take back control from Brussels. Now Keir Starmer is seeking to put the EU back in charge.

He is doing so without any mandate, and in direct contradiction of previous pledges given to the public. Nowhere is this more true than on the issue of immigration.

Last week, the Prime Minister launched his new, supposedly tougher approach to border controls – so tough in its language that some on the Left accused him of adopting the rhetoric of Enoch Powell.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has reacted as it emerges a 12-year deal has been reached to allow EU boats to fish in UK waters.

Ms Badenoch said the access is three times longer than the government wanted and that the development, reported to be a concession, is ‘very concerning’.

In a round of interviews this morning, Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds refused to confirm whether the deal has been finalised, but said there is a ‘real prize’ for the country.

Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Reynolds said:

The current deal has huge gaps in it, not just on areas to do with trade, but to do with security as well.

So this is about making people better off, about making the country more secure, about making sure there are more jobs in the UK.

He hinted that a youth mobility scheme would have a cap on numbers, insisting other existing arrangements were ‘limited’ and ‘targeted’.

It’s not the kind of access people had when we were members of the European Union. I think last year, we issued, as a country about 24,000 visas for the various youth mobility schemes.

So this is not immigration, it’s not freedom of movement. It’s something very different. Any scheme like this, if you look at the 13 we already have, they are capped, yes.

Sky News is reporting that a deal has been agreed and approved by the EU ambassadors’ committee.

As we wait on a final agreement between the EU and the UK, let’s take a look at what’s at stake in the deal and the sticking points between both sides:

• Free movement for young Europeans

The EU wants a youth-mobility scheme to give those aged 18 to 35 or so from across the bloc the right to live, work and study in Britain for three years.

For months the UK denied this was a possibility. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is known to have opposed it because of the impact it would have on politically toxic immigration figures.

But ministers belatedly admitted it was indeed on the table. They have insisted it does not constitute a return to ‘free movement’ and pointed out that the UK already has similar arrangements with other countries.

• Cheaper fees for foreign students

As a result of Brexit, undergraduates from EU countries studying at English universities are now charged uncapped international rates rather than the £9,250 tuition fees paid by domestic students. Senior figures in Brussels are said to have called for EU students to pay the lower fees once more.

However, this would be a blow to university vice-chancellors, who have already seen crucial income from foreign students slashed because of last year’s visa restrictions.

• Following EU rules… and judges

One of Labour’s main demands in the talks has been to cut red tape for firms exporting food and animal products to the continent. Known as a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement, it should end most of the border checks that have held lorries up for as long as 16 hours on their way to the continent. Ministers hope this may lead to lower prices for shoppers. But it will also mean Britain must once more sign up to EU rules and update them as they change – so-called dynamic alignment – which ended with Brexit. Any disputes would again have to be resolved by the European Court of Justice.

• French boats catching our fish

Britain’s fishermen had hoped Brexit would mean they could reclaim UK waters, but under the original deal struck by the Conservatives, EU boats were granted continued access.

This is due to end in 2026 and the EU has been arguing it should become permanent, with France even suggesting a ‘hard link’ between fishing rights and the UK’s access to defence contracts. The Tories say ministers must not agree to a lengthy deal that only benefits France.

• British troops on Brussels missions

Military co-operation was not a feature of the Brexit deal, but Labour wants a defence and security pact in its reset with Brussels. Ministers are keen for UK arms firms to gain access to the £126million Security Action for Europe fund, set up by Brussels to help EU nations spend more on weapons. A diplomatic source told The Mail on Sunday Britain could have to pay ‘hundreds of millions’ for access.

Some fear the Defence and Security Partnership could mean British servicemen taking part in EU civilian and military operations.

• Passport queues at EU airports

Since Brexit, UK holidaymakers and business travellers have faced long waits at airport passport barriers because they could no longer queue with EU citizens. For frequent fliers it has been one of the most visible consequences of Brexit.

Ministers want Brussels to let UK citizens use ‘e-gates’ reserved for EU passport holders, which would mean quicker transit times and a tangible sign of improved relations with the EU.

The European Union last night increased its demands over fishing rights last night, delaying the expected agreement of a deal with Britain.

Led by France, the EU had called for a roll-over of the current five-year deal that grants its trawlermen access to UK coastal waters.

But at the last minute the negotiators said the arrangement should last far longer in return for lifting existing post-Brexit checks on lorry loads of food and animal products being exported from Britain to the continent.

One source told the Mail that the EU had suddenly asked for permanent access to British fish as a quid pro quo for Sir Keir Starmer being granted a so-called Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement that would see red tape for exporters lifted indefinitely.

Another insider said Brussels had put an offer of ‘a decade of fish’ on the table – access to UK waters for ten years – in return for scrapping the lorry checks.

The late intervention is believed to have threatened a delay in the agreement being signed today before it was reported this morning there had been an apparent breakthrough between the two sides.

• Read more about Brussels late night demand here

Here’s the front page story of today’s Daily Mail

by Martin Beckford, Policy Editor

Keir Starmer was last night warned he would betray Brexit if he agreed a deal that put the UK back under the control of the EU.

The Prime Minister is today set to sign an agreement at what has been dubbed his ‘Surrender Summit’ that will mean Britain must once more follow EU laws and abide by its judges’ rulings.

He is also poised to hand millions of young Europeans the right to live, study and work here for up to three years, risking his pledge to cut migration.

And the PM – who backed Remain then campaigned for a second referendum to undo the Leave vote – is expected to ‘sell out’ Britain’s fishermen by allowing French boats continued access to UK coastal waters.

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage as Keir Starmer hosts EU leaders in London ahead of an expected agreement between the UK and European Union

The Prime Minister is set to sign an agreement at what has been dubbed his ‘Surrender Summit’ meaning Britain must once more follow EU laws and abide by its judges’ rulings.

The deal is intended to be a ‘reset’ in relations between the UK and EU after Brexit covering topics including defence, trade, fishing, and a possible youth mobility scheme

Talks were going down to the wire last night after the EU made surprise 11th-hour demands for the fishing rights to last a decade or more.

Stick with us for the latest updates throughout the day plus analysis and reaction with reporting from our political journalists in Westminster and Jamie Bullen in London.