Warm moves between UK and EU

Relations between the UK and the European Union (EU) have warmed in recent months. The recent visit to the EU Headquarters in Brussels (Belgium) by British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is a testament to the goodwill and efforts to mend bilateral relations, after post-Brexit tensions.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly spoke of warmer relations between the UK and the European Union (EU) during a visit to the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (TTX photo)

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly spoke of warmer relations between the UK and the European Union (EU) during a visit to the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (TTX photo)

Speaking at the EU headquarters, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly spoke of a more positive relationship between the UK and the EU, and pledged to maintain this trajectory. The British diplomat made it clear that although the UK and the EU do not see eye to eye on every issue, they can resolve their differences and make the most of the aspects on which they agree.

Mr Cleverly's visit follows a visit to EU headquarters in Brussels by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt last week, reflecting a warming of relations across the English Channel.

During Jeremy Hunt's visit, the EU and the UK reached a cooperation agreement on financial services. EU officials said the agreement would help UK financial services re-engage in discussions with the EU, in the interests of both economies .

At the end of February, the two sides achieved a breakthrough to help resolve the long-standing post-Brexit disputes. Specifically, the two sides reached a new trade agreement called the Windsor Framework, which helps cut down on procedures in trade exchanges between the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

The framework also establishes green lanes at Irish ports for goods arriving from Great Britain to travel to Northern Ireland without any trade restrictions, while red lanes will be for goods to continue into Ireland and the EU market.

Transporting goods such as medicines, plants, sausages, and parcels between the UK and Northern Ireland will also become easier. At the signing ceremony of this historic agreement, President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen said that the UK and the EU are close partners, standing shoulder to shoulder in the present and the future.

At the time of the Windsor Framework, economists predicted that this historic document would usher in a new era in relations between the UK and the EU. In fact, both sides have benefited from the decision to end the animosity that had been building for many years.

In particular, for the UK, the right development of relations with the EU brings economic benefits, in the context of the UK struggling to cope with the severe cost of living crisis and overcome the damage from Brexit. Public opinion believes that compared to his predecessors, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made more efforts to build friendly relations with the EU. This is also a mark of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's term, at the same time contributing to enhancing the prestige of this politician in the country.

Trust between the UK and EU member states has also been gradually restored. At the UK-France Summit held in Paris in March 2023, the two sides found common ground on many issues, contributing to strengthening the alliance to address common challenges.

In the context of geopolitical fluctuations that are strongly affecting the regional economic and security situation, the UK and EU temporarily putting aside the tiresome and protracted Brexit story to promote the spirit of cooperation in resolving differences and facing common challenges is an expected move.

TUONG VY/NHAN DAN NEWSPAPER

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