Urgent Restart Needed for EU-UK Reset Talks
Time is running out to reach an agreement on key issues such as tuition fees for EU citizens in the UK and food safety regulations. The European Union is seeking an urgent restart of negotiations on the "reset" of relations with the United Kingdom, as talks risk collapsing ahead of a planned summit in July.
At a public session of the EU-UK parliamentary partnership assembly held in Brussels, Maroš Šefčovič, the EU vice-president and trade commissioner, emphasized the need for both sides to "change gears" to ensure the deal is finalized.
Deadlock Over Tuition Fees and Food Safety
Šefčovič identified the deadlock over tuition fees for EU citizens under a proposed youth mobility scheme as a significant obstacle. Meanwhile, the UK’s trade minister, Chris Bryant, described negotiations on a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement as challenging due to the extensive legislation required in the British parliament.
"We need to change gears and work through complexities," Šefčovič told the MPs and MEPs gathered, acknowledging that reaching an agreement before the early July summit is "very ambitious."
This marks the first public address by Šefčovič on the matter since the so-called "common understanding" or formal agenda for a reset between the EU and UK was approved last May at Lancaster House.
UK Leadership Focuses on New Deal
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has prioritized securing a new agreement with Brussels as a central element of his economic and foreign policy. He aims to announce several agreements at the upcoming summer summit.
While progress has been made on SPS and emissions trading rules, the two sides remain deadlocked over whether EU students should pay the same tuition fees as British students, rather than the higher international fees currently charged.
"To come to an agreement on the youth experience scheme, we will need a solution of tuition fees," Šefčovič stated.
The disagreement threatens not only the planned summit but also broader efforts to realign with the EU, which Chancellor Rachel Reeves plans to emphasize in a speech on Tuesday as a key part of her growth agenda.
Exploring Regulatory Alignment
Officials have informed that Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister overseeing negotiations with Brussels, is already examining which economic sectors could benefit from adhering to EU regulations.
Thomas-Symonds has directed officials to conduct a "scoping exercise" to identify areas where UK companies already comply with EU rules, making separate UK regulations unnecessary. This alignment could allow the removal of border checks on those goods.
The government reportedly believes that all sectors except financial services and certain high-tech industries, such as artificial intelligence, might benefit from this approach.
Brussels sources indicate the UK is preparing an agenda for the 2026 and 2027 reset, prioritizing agreements on touring artists, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and eliminating costly dual regulation of chemicals.
Revealing a Failed Element of the 2020 Agreement
At the parliamentary assembly, Šefčovič disclosed that one provision of the 2020 trade and cooperation agreement, signed by David Frost, has failed: a visa scheme allowing people servicing equipment and machinery in the UK to obtain work visas for up to 180 days.
"Only 49 visas were granted in 2025. That is a very low number of visas and shows the scheme does not work," he said.
Efforts for broader realignment are likely to stall if the two governments cannot resolve the student fees issue.
Importance of Educational Exchange
Šefčovič highlighted the collapse in EU student numbers in the UK and stressed the importance of fostering relations between future generations through education amid a "very turbulent world."
"We should avoid the situation where we would be depriving our young generation from the common knowledge, common history.
"I know that it is challenging, it is difficult, but I believe that on both sides of the channel there is a strong wish from elected representatives of the people that we should solve this problem," he said.
EU students previously accounted for 27% of the UK student population, but the intake for the 2026-2027 academic year has dropped to 5%.
Challenges in Negotiation Pace
Bryant noted that the slow and methodical nature of talks has hindered progress.
"Our system is very slow and let me put it this way, the isn’t much faster. And when you put the two of us together, I don’t think it drives the pace of change that actually all of our voters and our communities really, really want and actually need economically."
Thomas-Symonds acknowledged the urgency expressed by MEPs and MPs.
"The message I take from this room very much today is about putting our foot on the accelerator," he said.
Political Perspectives on the Deal
Labour MP Stella Creasy described the UK as still "marriage" material with the EU and expressed hope that internal party divisions between those insisting on red lines and those favoring closer EU ties would not prevent a deal.
"It is precisely because we are not yet willing to go bigger that these negotiations are turning out to be so hard."
