UK, EU leaders to finalize defense and fishing deals

Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen are set to finalize plans today (April 24) for a new UK/EU defense pact and an agreement on the sensitive area of fishing rights, paving the way for negotiations on a broader economic deal.

The UK Prime Minister and the European Commission President are expected to announce a defense and security pact and a renewal of existing fishing arrangements at a summit on May 19.

Multiple officials briefed on the talks told the Financial Times (FT) that the defense agreement would build trust and open the door to sensitive discussions on issues such as a new youth mobility scheme, energy cooperation, and the removal of barriers to trade in food and agricultural products.

British officials said Starmer is expected to hold an hour-long meeting with Von der Leyen in London today on the sidelines of an international energy security summit. One official said they “have a strong personal relationship.”

The agreement is expected to be accompanied by a document outlining cooperation in other areas on May 19. An EU diplomat briefed on the summit preparations said, “The plan is to issue a document setting out a joint path forward.” A British official added, “May 19 will be the starting point.”

According to three people familiar with the matter, the thorny issue of fishing is expected to be resolved by maintaining existing fishing quotas in UK waters for at least two years, providing the certainty demanded by France and other coastal nations for EU boats.

In return, UK defense companies would gain access to potential €150 billion in EU-backed loans to finance arms purchases under the bloc’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) project.

Brussels has non-legally binding security agreements with six countries, including Norway, Albania, South Korea, and Japan, but UK and EU negotiators are discussing a potentially deeper bilateral partnership.

The SAFE program would allow EU members to issue bonds outside the financial limits set by Brussels, backed by the EU budget and reducing costs. The program is designed to finance arms purchases from manufacturers in EU member states and countries with security agreements with the EU.

A senior EU diplomat said, “European defense policy is unthinkable without the UK. That is why the UK needs to be closely involved in SAFE, just like Norway.”

Many member states have pressured France to accept the deal, but Paris has insisted that access to UK fish stocks remain at the same level after June 2026, when an agreement made during Brexit expires. Some member states are still pushing for at least a five-year deal on fish.

The two sides are expected to deepen cooperation in the energy sector, such as developing electricity trade between the UK and the EU, likely over a longer term to reflect the time needed to build infrastructure like electricity interconnectors.

The summit communiqué will also set out a roadmap for future discussions on reconnecting the two sides’ carbon emissions trading systems.

An EU diplomat said, “There will be a common understanding that could include a veterinary agreement, ETS, and youth mobility. It’s still a moving target, but the music in the air is definitely positive. There is credible hope that there could be a landing zone by May 19.”

A Downing Street official also underlined that there is real willingness on both sides. Another senior British official assessed the chances of an agreement as “75/25.”

An EU diplomat said the struggle over fishing rights is separate from the security agreement plans, but “intense negotiations” continue on other elements of the deal.

These elements include security, mobility and migration, reconnecting energy markets, and a “veterinary agreement” aimed at removing border controls on animal and plant products traded across the English Channel.

Significant gaps remain to be resolved on youth mobility, a key UK demand, and the rights of artists to tour in the EU. However, EU officials said London has accepted the principle of “dynamic alignment,” where the UK would automatically accept EU rules and standards, and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) would be the final arbiter on matters related to EU law.

Sensitive issues such as how disputes will be resolved and how the ECJ’s jurisdiction will work in practice are still awaiting negotiation.

One official said, “The more urgent question is how the UK will implement the mechanisms to ensure dynamic alignment and transpose EU rules into UK law.”