لندن, بريطانيا – تسعى حكومة رئيس الوزراء البريطاني آندي بيرنام إلى إعادة صياغة العلاقة الاقتصادية مع الاتحاد الأوروبي من خلال اتفاق جديد يتجاوز ترتيبات ما بعد «بريكست». وتأتي هذه الخطوة في محاولة لمنح الاقتصاد البريطاني دفعة إضافية للنمو. إلا أن الطموحات البريطانية تواجه تحفظات أوروبية وخطوطًا حمراء ترفض لندن تجاوزها.
November summit under test
All eyes are on the upcoming UK-EU summit scheduled for November. This summit was seen as a crucial step towards launching a new phase in relations. However, European officials familiar with the negotiations rule out the possibility of reaching a broad economic agreement during the summit.
The summit’s outcomes are likely to be limited to specific issues that have been under discussion since the previous summit in May 2025, primarily agricultural and food products, carbon markets, and youth visas. Negotiations also continue regarding Britain’s participation in the European electricity market.
Red lines in the way of rapprochement
The Byrneham government maintains its refusal to join the customs union, restore the free movement of people, and fully return to the single market. Brussels considers these positions incompatible with concluding a broad economic agreement.
A European official said the deal that London is hoping for may have to wait until the 2027 summit. This comes amid continued disagreements over the nature of the future relationship.
A gap between ambition and economic return
Economic estimates reveal the gap between British ambitions and expected outcomes. The Centre for European Reform estimates that the agreements currently under discussion could add between 0.3% and 0.7% to British GDP over ten years, while Burnham hopes for an agreement that would add “percentage points” to the growth rate.
The issue becomes even more important given the Bank of England’s estimate that Brexit caused a loss equivalent to about 6% of GDP during the same period.
The issue becomes even more important given the Bank of England’s estimate that Brexit caused a loss equivalent to about 6% of GDP during the same period.
