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From trade to defence: key takeaways from EU talks.

The Independent

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May 20, 2025

A landmark deal has been agreed between Britain and the European Union after a last-minute breakthrough in Sir Keir Starmer’s reset talks.

- MILLIE COOKE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

From trade to defence: key takeaways from EU talks.

Sir Keir – who has made the Brexit reset a centrepiece of his administration – said yesterday’s summit marks a “new era” of relations with the bloc, adding that it is about “moving on from stale old debates” and “looking forward, not backwards”.

Some issues have proven thornier than others, with the topic of fishing rights understood to have been a key stumbling block for negotiators that was only solved in the early hours of the morning.

Meanwhile, talks surrounding a youth mobility scheme appear to have ended in a deadlock. As the prime minister faces judgement on how successful his mission to reset relations with the EU has really been, The Independent takes a look at exactly what has been agreed.

Youth mobility scheme

After months of speculation over what a youth mobility scheme would look like, it is understood that no such deal has been agreed. While there was mounting pressure on the UK from the EU to agree a scheme – which would let under-30s study, live and work between Britain and the continent for a number of years – negotiators appear to have failed to reach an agreement, instead simply leaving the door open for further discussion.

“The European Commission and the United Kingdom should work towards a balanced youth experience scheme on terms to be mutually agreed,” the agreement states, adding that any deal should allow young people to work, study, travel or volunteer abroad for a limited period of time. A possible deal should also ensure that the “overall number of participants is acceptable to both sides”, the text says.

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