Strengthening ties: What does the future UK-EU relationship look like?
20
May 2025 — 6:30PM TO 7:30PM
Anonymous (not verified)
29 April 2025
Chatham House and Online
As the UK Prime Minister prepares to meet with European leaders, how can the UK and EU build a more productive future relationship and address the challenges both face?
As the UK Prime Minister prepares to meet with European leaders, how can the UK and EU build a more productive future relationship and address the challenges both face?
The UK’s Labour Government has invested considerable effort to improve relations with the European Union, following years of diplomatic turbulence between the two under the previous government. The first UK-EU Summit on the 19th May promises to be a pivotal event in shaping the future of the relationship and represents an opportunity for both parties to discuss proposals and opportunities for greater collaboration. Issues including trade, security, and regulatory alignment will be up for discussion as leaders look to solutions to European security, changing US trade policy and fostering economic growth both sides are desperately seeking.
However, the domestic UK climate remains uneasy about deepening ties with the EU. Political environments across the bloc are also complex, with populist parties embedding their presence in parliaments around the EU. This political fragmentation makes international cooperation harder. A better relationship is hard to see. Greater volatility and uncertainty around the world present external challenges that will also force UK and European leaders to adjust rapidly to events as they unfold. Can solutions be found?
During this panel discussion, experts will discuss:
- How might EU-UK be able to boost the economic growth that both sides seek? Where are the areas for greater collaboration that will reap the best economic results?
- Can the EU-UK relationship offer the necessary security guarantees to support Ukraine and contain Russian aggression?
- How can the relationship best respond to the Trump administration’s approach to tariffs and the European security umbrella?
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Source: Chathamhouse Events