A landmark defence deal is set to be finalised between the EU and UK, paving the way for British arms firms to tap into a €150bn fund for air and missile defence systems.
The European Commission and the UK government are moving closer to a defence deal that will open the door to British arms firms being able to reap bigger potential rewards from a €150bn (£129bn) EU fund. The commission has said it is ready to negotiate a security and defence partnership with ‘Keir Starmer, effectively treating the UK as European for defence procurement.’
The United Kingdom's (UK) government is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
It consists of three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The monarch serves as head of state, while the Prime Minister heads the government.
The UK Parliament has two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The government is responsible for making laws, collecting taxes, and providing public services.
The €150bn SAFE Fund: A Key Component of EU Defence Spending
The SAFE fund – expected to be finalised in May – would allow EU member states to take out loans to buy up to €150bn of air and missile defence systems, ammunition, drones, and other military kit. The fund has a ‘buy European’ rule, meaning that components from non-EU countries can only make up 35% of the cost of any project, with restrictions relaxed for Ukraine and countries with a defence and security partnership with the EU.
The European Union (EU) consists of 27 member states, each with its own government and laws.
These countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
The EU member states cooperate on a range of issues, including trade, economy, law enforcement, and foreign policy.
No Link to Fishing Rights: Both Sides Insist
Despite concerns over how far member states will insist on linking security to a separate agreement on fisheries, both sides have insisted that the defence deal is not tied to fishing rights. The commission has said it is committed to strengthening relations between the EU and the UK, with ‘Thomas Regnier stating that ‘the commission is ready to negotiate a security and defence partnership’ with the UK.’
A Bilateral Meeting Between Starmer and von der Leyen
Keir Starmer is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday when she attends the UK’s energy security summit in London. The meeting comes ahead of the EU-UK summit on 19 May, where a security and defence partnership agreement is likely to be discussed.
Keir Starmer is a British politician who has been serving as the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party since April 2020.
He previously served as the Shadow Brexit Secretary from 2016 to 2019.
Born on September 2, 1962, in Southwark, London, he studied law at the University of Leeds and later became a barrister.
Starmer rose through the ranks of the Labour Party, becoming a Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras in 2015.
A Stable Fisheries Deal: Nick Thomas-Symonds’ Perspective
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister acting as the chief EU negotiator, has stated that the UK was open to having a multi-year deal on fisheries. He said that ‘having something that is more stable would be in our interests going forward.’ The UK government spokesperson has also confirmed that they will protect the interests of their fisheries and stand ready to negotiate a security and defence partnership agreement with the EU.
A Like-Minded Strategic Partner: The European Commission‘s View
The European Commission has described the United Kingdom as a ‘like-minded strategic partner for the EU and its member states’ with whom it shares many fundamental values, goals, and challenges. The commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier has stated that ‘the United Kingdom is a like-minded strategic partner for the EU and its member states.’
