The Labour government has repeatedly stated its desire to strengthen ties with Europe, but diplomats have been saying for some weeks that they need to see this translated into specifics before they embark on a reset. They have also said there is no “à la carte” option.
As EU leaders question how much has changed in the UK despite the new government, the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE) has outlined a plan to bring the two sides closer after a series of reports that the EU doubted Keir Starmer’s commitment to a reset.
“Emotions around the UK’s departure from the EU are far from healed, and this scarring is damaging the prospects of both,” the plan’s author, David Henig, a former civil servant and trade policy expert, said.
International relations are often tough to build, especially when one side is quite rude and then wanting special benefits afterwards.
The UK cut the ties, so the EU has more say in how relations are rebuilt. The UK had a ton of special exemptions and their own national identity in the EU then many other members and the UK still freaked out about how oppressed they were.
The EU doesn’t really owe the UK anything that’s not in still existing agreements and if the UK wants a relationship they’ll have to come to the table bringing something, not just hurling demands.
I’m just really glad that the UK leaving the EU didn’t devolve into armed conflict. That’s a pretty normal arc for such a big relations change.