On May 19, London will host the first high-level summit between British and EU leaders since Brexit. According to Polish Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), both sides are now ready to rebuild and deepen their relationship, recognizing each other as key strategic partners. Discussions will primarily focus on defense cooperation and facilitating the mobility of young people, though trade relations remain a persistent challenge.
“The UK left the EU five years ago. We regret that decision—and polling shows that a majority of the British public now regrets it as well. The UK was, is, and will remain part of Europe. It is one of the key countries in ensuring European security,” said Michał Kobosko, an MEP from Poland 2050, speaking to Newseria. “We are already closely cooperating on security, including support for Ukraine—where the UK is a leading European player—and more broadly on our shared safety.”
Since the UK formally left the EU in January 2020, relations have been governed by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), in force since January 1, 2021. However, the upcoming summit marks the first top-level meeting since the Brexit negotiations concluded. European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to travel to London, where British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will act as host. A central item on the agenda will be defense collaboration, including talks on a potential security pact that would allow the UK to participate in joint EU weapons procurement programs.
“We are getting closer to a point where British defense companies will also be able to participate in the EU’s new programs for expanding the defense industry and acquiring military equipment,” Kobosko added. “This makes perfect sense—we have decades of close cooperation in the arms industry, British products are widely used in European armies, and the UK is our natural, trusted ally within NATO.”
This rapprochement comes against the backdrop of two major geopolitical challenges: Russia’s military aggression and growing economic uncertainty stemming from the protectionist policies of Donald Trump’s U.S. administration.
“The UK is undeniably a strong ally of the EU and of NATO,” said Łukasz Kohut, an MEP from the Civic Coalition. “While it remains outside the EU, it is actively engaged in supporting Ukraine. I expect the UK will take part in this major European defense initiative and will continue to work closely with member states through NATO and other frameworks.”
Kobosko noted that high-level summits like this one are expected to occur regularly going forward. Talks are already underway to reintroduce UK participation in student exchange programs, suspended post-Brexit. Leaders are also expected to discuss energy cooperation.
“Even if the UK doesn’t formally rejoin the EU—which remains unlikely in the near term—this cooperation will deepen, simply because we are natural neighbors and partners,” Kobosko emphasized.
However, trade relations could prove to be a thornier issue. Brexit-era negotiations left deep scars, and the topic remains highly sensitive. Just weeks before the summit, the UK signed a partial trade agreement with the United States, which President Biden hailed as a major success. Economists, however, have been more reserved in their assessments. Under the deal, U.S. tariffs on British car exports were reduced from 27.5% to 10%, and tariffs on British steel and aluminum were eliminated. The UK, in turn, cut tariffs on U.S. goods from 5.1% to 1.8%, though many British goods remain subject to a 10% U.S. tariff.
Meanwhile, the future of EU–U.S. trade remains uncertain. The EU has threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on $95 billion worth of American goods and is preparing a complaint to the World Trade Organization, arguing that some U.S. tariffs violate international trade rules. This triangulates the relationship between the EU, the UK, and the U.S.
“EU–UK trade relations are currently very complex. The UK is no longer a member of the EU, and that’s created numerous issues around tariffs,” said Kohut. “But given the global context, especially the tension with the U.S., I think the UK will lean toward closer trade cooperation with the EU. This summit could mark a turning point.”
“Trade is the most delicate issue of all,” added Kobosko. “At the root of Brexit was a sense that the UK was being treated unfairly in trade with the EU. So this will be the hardest area to reach agreement. But in today’s climate—amid a global trade war sparked by the U.S.—it’s more important than ever that the EU and the UK maintain strong relations.”
A January 2025 survey by YouGov found that 55% of Britons now view Brexit as a mistake, while only 30% still support it (compared to 52% who voted to leave in the 2016 referendum). Just 11% consider Brexit more of a success than a failure. There is widespread public support for closer ties with the EU. The most popular option is deepening bilateral cooperation without formally rejoining the Union—an approach backed by 64% of respondents. Still, 55% would support reversing Brexit, with 39% strongly in favor of rejoining the EU.
