UK eyes EU pact to ease trade, boost security

LONDON: Britain hopes to secure a reset deal with the European Union on Monday that would boost defence and security cooperation, and smooth the arrival of people and also food into the bloc, its chief negotiator said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host EU leaders in London on Monday in the most significant effort to reset ties since Britain left the EU in 2020 after four years of acrimonious divorce talks.

Wary of reigniting domestic battles over Brexit, and with its chief campaigner Nigel Farage a fierce political rival, Starmer is trying to secure a deal that will include tangible benefits for Britons to offset the concessions it will need to make to Brussels.

Britain wants the deal to include the use of faster e-gates for British travellers at EU borders, reduced red tape on food trade, and a new defence and security partnership that could allow British companies access to an EU loan scheme worth 150 billion euros ($167 billion).

It also hopes to agree closer ties on energy and carbon markets, better cooperation on migration smuggling gangs, the mutual recognition of certain professional qualifications, as well as access for touring artists and data sharing.