Šefčovič: New EU agreements with Britain are in the interest of residents and businesses

Brussels – The first historical summit of the EU and the United Kingdom on Monday (May 19) brought promising results in terms of further cooperation between Brussels and London. This was stated on Tuesday in Brussels by European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič, who was responsible for post-Brexit relations between the EU and the British government from 2019 to 2024. This was reported by TASR correspondent.

The United Kingdom and the EU reached significant agreements on Monday aimed at strengthening defense cooperation, facilitating food trade, border controls, and, as Šefčovič pointed out, also in the area of youth mobility, which will also impact the revival of the labor market.

According to him, it was indeed a significant day for British-European relations, and he appreciated that the atmosphere at the summit was much better than during many negotiations he had led on behalf of the European Commission (EC) in the past.

“We treated each other as partners, as allies, and we managed to reach an agreement to open new chapters of cooperation. Not only in the areas of defense, economy, or phytosanitary safety for agricultural products, but also for young people. We agreed to prepare a new youth exchange program,” he described the situation.

This, according to him, means that the British will be able to be part of exchange programs like Erasmus+ again, young Europeans will find it easier to travel to Britain for work experiences and studies, and the same will apply in reverse for young Britons. Šefčovič specified that both sides agreed to start working immediately on the preparation of this program.

He pointed out that after the working discussions in the area of defense, which symbolically took place aboard a warship on the Thames, the working dinner at the residence of the British Prime Minister also took place in the presence of representatives from the business sector.

“Businesspeople also expressed their views on the progress we have made. The atmosphere is really completely different, it is positive, and we will do our utmost to translate this into specific areas that residents and businesses on both sides of the English Channel will feel,” explained the European Commissioner. He added that in the approved political memorandum, both sides agreed on key topics that need to be technically elaborated, and they also set specific timelines for this so that the agreements can take effect as soon as possible. (May 20)

“We treated each other as partners, as allies, and we managed to reach an agreement to open new chapters of cooperation. Not only in the areas of defense, economy, or phytosanitary safety for agricultural products, but also for young people. We agreed to prepare a new youth exchange program.” Maroš Šefčovič