Talks on a UK-EU reset deal were going down to the wire on Sunday, ahead of a major summit in London on Monday, which Downing Street hopes will secure closer ties with Brussels in the years ahead.
The new agreement will see Brussels and London agree to a new security and defence pact, which will allow British defence companies to bid for contracts under the EU’s new €150bn (£128bn) re-armament scheme.
No 10 believes a new veterinary deal – which removes barriers to trade in food such as fresh meat, cheese and olive oil – will lower supermarket bills and is one of the biggest prizes of a new relationship with the EU.
A Whitehall source told The i Paper that securing improved trading terms on food would be one of the “biggest wins” from the reset deal as it would help boost the economy, and give confidence to businesses and consumers.
EU diplomats took the unusual move of meeting on Sunday to discuss the final details of the deal, with discussions taking place until the “final hours” over what concessions should be given and sought under the new relationship with the UK.
Brussels is understood to want the UK to “dynamically align” with EU food hygiene and animal welfare standards as part of any improved veterinary deal, known as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) arrangements.
Thomas-Symonds would not give details of the prospective deal during broadcast interviews on Sunday, telling the BBC: “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”
He said: “We know we’ve had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported because frankly it’s just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that.”
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Another area expected to require further talks is a new youth mobility scheme, with both sides agreeing that it should be capped and time-limited, but final details have yet to be agreed upon.
Youth mobility could prove a major sticking point for the opposition, and Badenoch said she feared it would involve a return to free movement “by the back door”.
Existing schemes with countries including Australia and Canada involve limited numbers and require a visa, but the details of any EU scheme remain to be seen.
GGF director Praful Nargund said: “If it is time-limited – we have suggested three years and the numbers are capped – then people see it differently to mass migration or freedom of movement.
“People in focus groups were warm to the idea, and liked that it was reciprocal, that their children would be able to benefit from it.”
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