How much has the EU changed since Jan 20, the day the UK left. As ever, notes and links although I originally drifted a bit into the old opt-outs. I added some links about those programmes we have joined since 2020, and the glacial speed of the ‘reset’. I added [dynamic] links to my blog and wiki.
2025
Over the summer and autumn of 2025, UK in a changing Europe published three articles, on divergence, and progress in negotiating further changes after the May 25 Summit.
- UK-EU relations alignment by stealth/ in July 2025, after the summit. They describe it as stealth, I describe it as one agency at a time.
- UK-EU divergence tracker q4 2024-Q2 2025, their report landing page. They believe that we have rejoined 21 programmes.
And on the reset negotiations,
- The UK-EU reset six months after the summit where are we, a very mechanical description of the processes, I say, overoptimistic on mood, probably spot-on on money although it ignores the eight infringements.
To their list, we can add Erasmus+, announced on the 16th Dec, the student exchange scheme, and the Commons vote in favour of joining the customs union, on 9th Dec 2025.
2023
Anton Spisak, considers the changes or at least hints about it, I hope he keeps his promise to write something, although he seems to be one of the pessimists, probably because he still wants some of the opt-outs. My first take on the opt-outs is in an article entitled, Brexit’s over, it’s just about the mopping-up now, and a second go in “Mercantilist acquiescence-is not enough“, in which I argue giving up on the opt-outs is an important step in proving our willingness for a proper relationship.
Niall O’Conghaile also writes trenchantly on twitter, making I think similar points. I am not sure if he’s saying it’s unlikely we’ll rejoin, or we won;t until we recognise the interests of the new EU and its member states.
Here’s Richard Corbett, at an AEIP meeting, he’s more optimistic,
The EU have a page, describing the legislative changes since the UK left. I might do an analysis.
This on digital wallets for documents is worrying.
Maastricht Convergence Criteria
by Dave on May 24, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Despite claiming to be an expert, I had not heard of the Maastricht Convergence Criteria which define a readiness to join the Euro. I asked google gemini to summarise its role. These include Price stability, Sound public finances, to ensure they are sustainable, Exchange-rate stability, to demonstrate that a Member State can manage its economy…
by Dave on April 13, 2026 at 7:51 pm
The Government has announced it plans to introduce a Bill to allow the Government to “dynamically align” with the European Union‘s single market. This comes at the end of a series of events over the last four and half months, since I wrote, https://davelevy.info/wiki/brexit-reset-winter-2025-26/ I comment on these at https://davelevy.info/labours-brexit-tanker-is-turning/, since then […]
by Dave on April 9, 2026 at 5:40 pm
A treaty has been signed between the three parties. The headline is that Gibraltar is to become part of Schengen land. Here’s some links Gibraltar becomes part of Schengen land, the Spanish border police will be present at the airport and dock. Brits keep the military bases. Both states reserve their position on sovereignty.
And on my blog
Could the UK pass the Copenhagen criteria?
by Dave on April 28, 2026 at 10:23 am
As Labour turns a corner and begins to address if it should seek to lead the country into a closer relationship with the European Union, I found a thread on bluesky which questions if the UK is sufficiently democratic, and
Is Labour about to ‘press reset’ again
by Dave on April 24, 2026 at 2:46 pm
I reviewed “Pressing Reset” , the recent Fabian pamphlet on the state of play within the mainstream of the Parliamentary Labour Party on relations with the EU. This was published on the Chartist Magazine’s website. I conclude that the Parliamentary
“Another Europe” & Citizens takeover …
by Dave on March 11, 2026 at 11:57 am
I have represented Another Europe within Citizens takeover Europe for five years and recently wrote a report on our joint work. This has been posted on the Another Europe’s web site. I talked about tracking the Conference on the Future of Europe, the political denouement of CoFoE, the 2024 EP elections, the growing strength of the nationalist and far-right in the EP, citizens assemblies, the EU […]
More on the “Reset”, progress over Xmas?
by Dave on February 7, 2026 at 5:02 pm
My Union branch has passed a motion for GMB Congress calling for the Labour Government to rejoin the single market and customs union now, and for the Party to ask for a mandate to rejoin at the next election. Is this needed? I am of the view that the speed of the “Reset” is glacial and that without a change in attitude they will not achieve anything of significance or notice before the end […]
Single market, customs union and a poison pill.
by Dave on January 15, 2026 at 1:01 pm
In an article, Starmer prepares for parliamentary battles over imminent EU ‘reset’ bill, jessicaelgot suggested that there is movement on the “red lines”. It is clearer on reading that this is an attempt to accelerate UK agreement to the currently
by Dave on December 23, 2025 at 9:40 am
Are we moving closer to joining the EU? It’s been quite an eventful month, culminating in Wes Streeting’s call for the UK to join the EU’s Customs Union. This article looks at the current state of thinking of HMG on negotiations with the EU, comments on the velocity and direction of travel, contrasting the red lines vs the numerous programme adoptions, recent polling evidence that a majority […]
I updated this page, primarily to record “UK in a changing Europe”‘s documents about the level of convergence/divergence.