Speaking at EU headquarters, the UK's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly referred to "close and friendly UK-EU cooperation", and "committed to maintaining that positive trajectory.” The UK's diplomat said that, although they have not agreed on everything, in mature relationships they can deal with differences while making the most of areas where they agree.
Cleverly's visit comes shortly after Finance Secretary Jeremy Hunt's visit to the EU headquarters in Brussels last week, reflecting the positive signals of relations between the UK and the EU.
During Jeremy Hunt's visit, the EU and the UK reached an agreement to cooperate on financial services. The agreement will help UK financial services re-engage in discussions with the EU, to the benefit of both economies, EU officials said.
At the end of February, the two sides achieved a breakthrough to help resolve the long-standing disputes in the post-Brexit era. Specifically, the two sides have reached a new trade agreement called the Windsor Framework, which dramatically cut down on customs processes and checks between the UK and Northern Ireland.
The Windsor Framework establishes a new set of arrangements for the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Windsor Framework provides a new basis for trusted traders to move their goods from the UK to Northern Ireland, through a new “green lane”, without any trade restrictions. Goods that are not moved under the UK Internal Market Scheme will use the “red lane” and continue to apply the information and other requirements applied for movements into the EU.
It has also become easier to transport goods such as medicines, plants, sausages and parcels between the UK and Northern Ireland. At the signing ceremony of this historic agreement, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen said "A stronger EU-UK relationship standing as close partners shoulder to shoulder now and in the future.".
At the time of the Windsor Framework, economic experts said that this historic document would open a new chapter for relations between the UK and the EU. The reality so far shows that both have benefited from the decision to end the animosity that arose many years ago.
In particular, for the UK, a well-developed relationship with the EU brings economic benefits, in the context of the UK struggling to cope with a severe cost of living crisis and overcome other problems from Brexit. According to public opinion, compared with his predecessors, the UK's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made more efforts to build friendly relations with the EU. This is also a mark in the tenure of the UK's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and at the same time contributes to improving the reputation of this politician in the country.
Trust between the UK and EU member states is also gradually being restored. At the Anglo-French Summit held in Paris in March 2023, the two sides found common ground on many issues, contributing to strengthening the alliance’s drive to solve common challenges.
In the context of geopolitical fluctuations strongly affecting the economic and security situation in the region, the UK and EU temporarily put aside the tiresome and persistent Brexit story to uphold the spirit of cooperation and resolve differences, a will towards facing common challenges is the expected positive signal.
