UK plans pragmatic reset of EU relationship

The Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, announced the UK government will negotiate a pragmatic reset of the relationship with the EU focused on trade facilitation, security cooperation and selective regulatory alignment.

• Main action: The government will start detailed negotiations on an SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) deal this autumn, commit to bringing legislation to Parliament to implement the deal and aims to get that done by 2027; the plan includes decision‑shaping rights (not ECJ jurisdiction) and international arbitration for disputes.
• Background and other details: DEFRA published a report showing disproportionate impact on smaller firms; specific border costs cited include £200 per export health certificate per consignment, £149 for SPS checks per shipment, and up to £1,400 per sampled shipment; government also plans linking UK and EU carbon markets, and new agreements on data sharing, facial imaging and access to EU criminal records, and is working with France on detaining illegal Channel crossings.