Brexit Watch

esherandwalton
Jun 19
9 min read

There is plenty going on this week around the world but, as it happens, most of it is happening outside of Europe.

Never fear, though. If there’s one thing we can do, it's ferret around and find out all the European goings-on in the quieter corners of the news.

One thing that has been on the front pages, however, is Gibraltar. Then we have new sanctions on Russia, trade with Northern Ireland, and.... Trains!

What more could you want?

THE WEEK THAT WAS

Results for The Rock

[Image: Shutterstock]

After almost half a decade of talks, an agreement has finally been reached regarding the flow of both people and goods between the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar and the Kingdom of Spain.

Managing that border has been a headache for all parties involved since Brexit, whereupon Gibraltar became a non-EU territory while Spain, obviously, did not. Given the tens of thousands of people that cross between the two countries daily, making up a majority of Gibraltar’s workforce, this presented a massive logistical challenge. The fact that Spain still officially lays claim to the territory of The Rock only served to complicate matters further.

The new agreement will remove any checks between Gibraltar and Spain. Instead, both Gibraltarian and Spanish authorities will administer checks on arrivals at both the territory’s air and sea ports. The arrangement is being compared to that of the EuroStar terminal at London St Pancras, where both British and French checks are undertaken before leaving the UK, allowing for free movement without further checks on arrival.

Responses to the deal have been broadly positive, with the UK, EU, Spain and Gibraltar all appearing suitably relieved that the matter has, hopefully, been resolved after so many years of tension. Some criticism has been noted by the likes of Reform UK (what a surprise), who cited concerns that the British sovereignty of Gibraltar was being compromised.

The agreement specifically stipulates that the nature and extent of that sovereignty will remain unchanged by the new border controls. Fabian Picardo, Gibraltar's Chief Minister, said he was ‘delighted’ with the deal, while EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič described the agreement as a ‘truly historic milestone’.

Now, the agreement in principle needs to be converted into practical, applicable law. Confidence, however, seems high that this will happen quickly.

From the EU with love

[Image: Shutterstock]

The EU announced its 18th package of sanctions against Russia this week, targeting the country's energy and financial sectors in a bid to further drain Putin’s war chest.

The package includes proposals to completely ban the use of Nord Stream pipelines to import gas from Russia, cut off a further 22 Russian banks from the SWIFT international banking system, and to lower the oil price cap, which has sat at $60 since 2020, to $45.

The package also contains measures to stifle back-door methods used by Russia to trade with Europe, such as banning a further 77 vessels used for this purpose from accessing EU ports. A massive €2.5 billion export ban to Russia is also proposed across a wide range of resources and technologies, which Commission President Ursula von der Leyen argued would prevent Putin from modernizing his weaponry ‘with European technology’.

However, these sanctions are not yet a done deal. While the EU is able to enact many of these measures without the involvement of, say, the United States, the White House’s participation would allow the sanctions to apply much greater pressure on the Kremlin.

The sanctions, and in particular the lowering of the oil price cap, are likely to be headline issues at the upcoming G7 meeting in Canada this weekend. It was that body which enacted the original cap of $60 and, in order for a further reduction to have the intended effect, all members of the G7 will need to agree with and enact the new $45 cap too.

The Council of the EU have also approved a separate package of sanctions this week, this time targeting the import of fertilizers and agricultural products from both Russia and Belarus. High tariffs on a range of agricultural exports from those two nations were already adopted in 2024, with these new measures applying to goods that made up a further 15% of agricultural imports from Russia in 2023.

It’s clear that Europe is stepping up its pressure on Putin once more, in an effort to cripple his economy and force an end to his illegal war in Ukraine. However, there remain hurdles within the EU that need to be dealt with before these new measures can be enacted. Quite aside from dealing with the ever-unpredictable United States at the G7, Brussels will also need to watch out for the likes of Hungary and Slovakia, whose leaders have both taken less than positive stances on past sanction packages. Though neither has yet gone so far as to block any of the 17 sets of sanctions thus far, their threats of vetoing loom large.

New trade hopes for Northern Ireland

[Image: Shutterstock]

UK government ministers met with Northern Irish leaders this week at the first East-West Council in Belfast. The Council is charged with strengthening connections, especially in terms of trade, between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Leaving the first meeting of the council, Secretary of State Hilary Benn and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden both agreed that the results of the recent UK-EU summit would go a long way to smoothing trade across the Irish Sea. Complications have been plentiful in that regard since Brexit, with the status of Northern Ireland having been one of the most painful sticking points of negotiations between the UK and EU.

Northern Ireland Office minister Fleur Anderson also announced a new Connect Fund at the meeting, which will award grants of up to £50,000 to groups working with directly affected communities and strengthening east-west connections.

In case you missed it (ICYMI) 👀

Eurostar has revealed plans to launch two new direct lines between London and Europe, with routes planned to both Frankfurt and Geneva.

The routes, which will require 50 new trains at a cost of around €2bn, are due to open in the early 2030’s, though some questions around expansion of infrastructure remain to be ironed out first.

This week's special mention go to 👏

Our very own Sir Nick Harvey for his appearance on LBC this week, where he defended the ECHR as a ‘universal declaration of human rights for everyone in Europe to enjoy’ and criticized calls for the UK to leave the convention.

You can listen to some clips of Nick here:

Introduction

Why the UK shouldn't leave

The future of the ECHR

Brexit in Westminster 🗣️

[Image: Shutterstock]

In a written answer on 9 June 2025, Cabinet Office Minister Daniel Zeichner confirmed that British exports such as fresh sausages, seed potatoes, and certain shellfish will be able to return to EU markets once a UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Zone is agreed. Talks are expected to begin immediately, following commitments made at the UK–EU Summit in May. The question came from Conservative MP James Wild, who pressed the Government on when these banned goods could resume trade.

On the same day, responding again to James Wild, Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed that the Government will move swiftly to deliver on UK–EU Summit commitments relating to cooperation with the EU Drugs Agency, electricity trading, and criminal records exchange. Parliament, he said, would be kept updated as talks progress.

Also on 9 June, in response to a question from Labour MP Callum Anderson, Defence Minister Maria Eagle stated that the new UK–EU Security and Defence Partnership means the UK now meets the criteria to join the EU’s €150 billion SAFE (Security Action for Europe) procurement programme. Once EU processes are finalised, this could unlock significant opportunities for the British defence industry.

Defence Minister Luke Pollard, answering another question from Callum Anderson on 9 June, stated that the Security and Defence Partnership would improve interoperability between UK forces and EU allies. The agreement is intended to complement NATO, strengthen joint operational capacity, and preserve UK strategic autonomy.

In a response dated 10 June, Health Minister Karin Smyth told SNP MP Stephen Gethins that the Department of Health had made no specific assessment of the impact of leaving the EU on medicine shortages. While manufacturing issues remain the primary cause, she stressed that work is ongoing with the NHS and industry to strengthen supply chain resilience and minimise future disruptions.

Also on 10 June, Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary tabled an Early Day Motion warning of the damaging impact of the EU’s 90-in-180 day limit on British touring artists, drivers, and travellers. The motion calls for urgent negotiations with the EU to agree a reciprocal mobility arrangement. Without it, new border checks from October could slash haulage and coach revenues by up to 50%, putting thousands of jobs at risk.

Finally, on 12 June, the House of Lords debated rejoining the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) – the EU satellite system enhancing GPS accuracy for aviation, maritime, and emergency services. The UK lost access in 2021 after leaving the EU. Re-entry could generate £2.60 in public benefit for every £1 spent. According to supporters, over 105,000 passengers annually could avoid delays, and more than 1,000 missed NHS appointments in remote areas could be prevented.

Now showing at The Theatre of Brexit 🍿

UK, EU reach post-Brexit deal on Gibraltar | FRANCE 24 English

Brexit was a low blow to London, says Sadiq Khan | CNBC International

And that was The Week That Was.

The Politico team delves into the EU’s new emissions target, which will see emissions cut by 90% in the next 15 years, and the less than enthusiastic responses it has received from many member states.

With less than a 5th of members supporting the target as it stands and the rest all demanding concessions of varying degrees, Brussels has a fight on its hands to uphold the bloc's stated green values, while also maintaining the delicate balance of powers that have come to underpin the union.

THINK TANK CORNER 🤔

Is Norway edging towards a fresh EU membership bid? | UK in a Changing Europe

John Erik Fossum looks at the relationship between Norway and the EU, both historically and presently, and asks if a rapidly changing world may be enough to stimulate a fifth application for full membership to teh bloc.

With war in Ukraine and Donald Trump dismantling the foundations of international trade, the benefits of Norway’s close affiliation but lack of full membership to the EU may not last. However, with membership having been rejected in two popular referenda already (in 1972 and 1994), Fossum considers if the political will is really there to walk that road once more.

PODCAST OF THE WEEK 🎙️

Are tax rises inevitable? | The News Agents

Looking inward this week, the News Agents take a closer look at the Chancellor's recent spending review. With talk of renewal and delivering on promises, they ask whether the government’s plans may be too ambitious, and whether or not tax rises may, or may not, be on the horizon.

EVENTS 📌

There's always something going on in the European Movement! See all local EMUK events here.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK! 👋

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Brexit Watch

THE WEEK THAT WAS

Results for The Rock

From the EU with love

New trade hopes for Northern Ireland

In case you missed it (ICYMI) 👀

This week's special mention go to 👏

Brexit in Westminster 🗣️

Now showing at The Theatre of Brexit 🍿

And that was The Week That Was.

IN OTHER NEWS (UK) 📰

IN OTHER NEWS (EU) 📰

OPINION & ANALYSIS 🔍

THINK TANK CORNER 🤔

PODCAST OF THE WEEK 🎙️

EVENTS 📌

THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK! 👋

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