Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union
the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU
The United Kingdom's post-Brexit relationship with the European Union and its members is governed by the Brexit withdrawal agreement and the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The latter was negotiated in 2020 and has applied since January 2021.
Following the UK's withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020, the UK continued to conform to EU regulations and to participate in the EU Customs Union during the "Brexit transition period", which began on 1 February 2020 and ended on 31 December 2020. This allowed for a period of time to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement between the UK and the EU.
Developments
Timeline
23 January 2023: Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in a speech at Chatham House, says that if elected the next Labour government would use the next scheduled review of the 2021 Trade and Cooperation Agreement to increase cooperation with the EU.
11 February 2023: Reports emerge of a secret cross-party meeting of senior current and former politicians from the Conservative Party, including Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, and the Labour Party to address failures within the UK-EU relationship under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
27 February 2023: UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič agree and sign the Windsor Framework to resolve issues on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
19 May 2025: The UK and EU discuss food and metal exports, travel, fishing access, and border security. Agreements include reductions in checks on export to the EU of food, animals and plants; a formal UK-EU defence and security pact; the UK's commitment to join PESCO; and the future reopening of e-gates at airports to UK citizens. At the same time, the EU's existing access to UK fishing waters is extended until 2038, subject to agreed yearly catch quotas.
Opinion polling in the United Kingdom
Since May 2022, opinion polling has shown a steady increase in the numbers of Britons seeking to rejoin the European Union, with the number polled opting to stay outside the EU declining.
In November 2022, 53% of Brits polled would opt to re-join the EU if another referendum were held, with 34% opting to stay out (14% unsure).
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