As relations between the UK and its European neighbours become less contentious, plenty of opportunities exist to build on this positive momentum in 2023.
Relations between the UK and some EU member states have been improving recently and both sides should now invest in these further despite the still difficult, albeit improving, UK-EU relationship.
Until recently, the UK’s difficult relations with Brussels have interfered with its attempts to find new ways of engaging with European partners outside of the European Union (EU) framework.
The new Rishi Sunak-led Conservative government sees little political benefit in antagonistic relations with the EU and there appears to be no more personality clashes between leaders on both sides. This is visible in the constructive approach from both sides in the current discussions between the EU and the UK over potential adjustments to the Northern Ireland protocol, which both sides hope to conclude in the coming months.
Time has also healed some Brexit wounds on the continent, with the UK departure from the EU now simply being accepted as a reality by European interlocutors. This has been helped by the Labour party – the main opposition in the UK – not wanting the basic outline of the UK-EU relationship to change. Even though it proposes closer cooperation and more regular coordination between the EU and UK, its plans leave no prospect of the UK joining the EU customs union or single market anytime soon.
Ukraine proving critical to relations
The past year put into action the motto that the UK is ‘leaving the EU, not Europe’, as London proved to be one of the leading European countries supporting Ukraine and its neighbours following the Russian invasion.
British participation in the newly-established European Political Community (EPC) sends a positive signal of the UK’s openness to re-engage with the continent
Close cooperation, with coordinated sanctions and effectively working together on the supply of arms and other help to Ukraine, shows that meaningful cross-Channel cooperation is both critical and possible in several policy areas.
The UK relationships with EU member states bordering Russia are appreciably the most cordial, and there has been an ongoing deepening of cooperation in security and defence, even during the height of Brexit tensions.
The invasion of Ukraine has brought the UK and its European allies closer together, building on the UK’s rich engagement through NATO, multilateral formats such as the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (EFP) in the Nordic-Baltic region, reinforced bilateral agreements and security guarantees with countries such as Estonia, Sweden, and Finland...
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