UK pushed to reset with EU on Monday – “Leave the last decade behind”

Government is facing pressure from businesses and voters to reset its relationship with the EU and build ties with a stronger, united Europe.

Leading business lobbying group CBI recently published a report ahead of the inaugural EU-UK summit on Monday 19 May, which urges the government to capitalise on the unique opportunity to build a new strategic partnership with the EU.

“The inaugural EU-UK Summit on 19 May marks a turning point in the EU-UK relationship – a chance to leave the last decade behind and build a new strategic partnership based on defence, energy security and economic growth,” said CBI CEO Rain Newton-Smith.

“As we begin to reset the EU-UK relationship, we must commit to being ambitious and bold.”

The report sets out several strategic recommendations for how the EU and the UK can reset their relationship to improve both parties’ economic and geopolitical prospects.

These recommendations were produced in consultation with more than 400 businesses across the UK, and include:

• Reciprocal youth mobility schemes
• Joint defence initiatives on issues such as cybersecurity and space
• Joint regulation roadmaps for emerging technologies
• Negotiation of a Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications agreement

“With the disruptive headwinds of US tariffs bringing even more uncertainty to firms, the economic relationship between the EU and the UK is now more important than ever,” Newton-Smith said.

British voters ready to back reset with EU

Polling conducted by YouGov on behalf of Best for Britain ahead of the EU-UK summit found that the majority of British votes are ready to back an ambitious reset with the EU.

According to the poll, 69% of the public would back a new defence agreement with the EU and 63% would support a youth mobility scheme.

Additionally, 52% of British voters would be amenable to aligning with all EU regulations on goods and products, with 71% open to the idea of an EU-UK common approach to customs regulation.

This trend is mirrored across Labour voters who say they are considering voting for Reform UK, with most of this group being open to alignment on a customs approach and goods regulation if it meant securing better trade terms.

“Trade is about trade offs and this polling shows the British people understand that,” said Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain.

“They support the government being more ambitious in securing a common sense deal with the EU that removes technical barriers to trade which can bring down prices and boost growth across the UK.”

“The Government deserves huge praise for signing trade deals with India and the US in quick succession and now it’s right to turn our focus back to the European Union,” said Andrew Lewin, Labour MP for Welwyn Hatfield and Chair of the UK Trade and Business Commission.

“As our single largest trading partner, the economic prize on offer from a stronger partnership with the European Union is the biggest of all.”

The EU-UK summit will take place on Monday, 19 May 2025 in London.