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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · Jun 19

🎥 Missed it? Catch up on key takeaways from The Starmer Government and Europe: Resetting Relations in Turbulent Times conference. The highlights here ⤵️
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/videos/the-s...

The Starmer government and Europe: resetting relations in turbulent times: conference round up - UK in a changing Europe

Held in the immediate aftermath of the first post-Brexit EU–UK summit, this event brought together practitioners and academics to reflect on the...

ukandeu.ac.uk

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

@adonispegasiou.bsky.social Cyprus raises people-to-people ties in every UK meeting, especially the loss of access to UK universities, once a major draw for tens of thousands of Cypriot students. 🇨🇾 trusts the EU, but knows this will take time.

#UKEUStarmerEra

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

@monikameislova.bsky.social
While Germany secured youth mobility talks, Czech officials note no such efforts, highlighting how symbolic gaps in cultural exchange can reflect deeper imbalances in diplomatic priorities. #UKEUStarmerEra #YouthMobility

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

@husseinkassim.bsky.social Does the UK truly value people-to-people ties post-Brexit? 🇬🇧

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

Not all is perfect: Czechia is disappointed with the decline in youth mobility under the new ‘youth experience’ scheme, which risks losing access to popular UK opportunities for exchanges and self-development among young people.

More work needed to fix this gap.

Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

The UK remains a key security partner for Czechia, with 25+ years of British military presence in Vyškov & close cooperation on Ukraine.

The recent UK-EU summit’s defence partnership is welcomed, seen as vital to sustaining post-Brexit security ties.

#UKPolitics #EUrelations

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

@monikameislova.bsky.social From Prague’s view, Brexit helped rebalance the historically UK-dominant bilateral relationship, giving the Czech Republic more visibility and influence.

Between 2022-24, new sectoral agreements have paved the way for practical collaboration.

#UKEUStarmerEra

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

Military bases remain complex: settled customs union arrangements avoid island border concerns.

Though sovereignty debates arise Cyprus opts for pragmatism, holding off on raising military base issues until the broader Cyprus conflict is resolved.
#UKPolitics #Cyprus

Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

Post-Brexit, the Cyprus-UK Strategic Dialogue Framework (2022) has strengthened cooperation, with multiple meetings between Starmer’s government & Cyprus leadership.

Starmer’s 1st UK PM visit in 50+ years to Cyprus signals improving ties, carefully navigating sensitive military base issues.

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

@adonispegasiou.bsky.social - Cyprus-UK ties run deep, shaped by history and strategic links. With the UK as a UN Security Council member, Cyprus relies on its support.

Despite surprises over Brexit, Cyprus aimed to maintain strong, balanced relations with the UK. #UKEUStarmerEra

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

He sees potential for better UK-Spain ties under Starmer, but notes real political engagement is still minimal.

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

Molina also detailed Gibraltar’s unique status post-Brexit: Spain aims to remove physical checks, symbolically reintegrating it while respecting sovereignty. Negotiations remain tricky over Schengen and security.

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

He noted Spain's early efforts to help avoid Brexit, even backing reforms that went against its own interests.

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

At #UKEUStarmerEra Panel 5, @ignacio-molina.bsky.social highlighted Spain’s pragmatic approach to Brexit: regret over the UK's departure, yet acknowledgment that post-Brexit disruption, especially economically, has been limited.

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

Panel 5: Final views from the national capitals

🇪🇸 @ignacio-molina.bsky.social
🇨🇾 @adonispegasiou.bsky.social
🇨🇿 @monikameislova.bsky.social

Migration, trust, state strategy
Chair: @husseinkassim.bsky.social
#UKEUStarmerEra #EuropeSpeaks

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

📢 Last panel of the day coming up!
Join us live at the conference "The Starmer Government and Europe: Resetting relations in turbulent times."

🎥 Watch the livestream here:
🔗 www.youtube.com/live/OZAhw_r...

#UKEUStarmerEra #UKPolitics #EUrelations

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

📉 Allie Renison:
Mini-deals without EU mandates have limits.

Some topics were left off the table on purpose.

Summits sharpen minds, but also cap ambition.

#UKEUStarmerEra

Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

🇪🇺 Anton Spisak:
What’s changed?

The EU has quietly accepted the idea of selective single market access, something they strongly rejected during Chequers.
This is a real shift.

#UKEUStarmerEra

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

⚖️ Donnelly continued:
The UK’s acceptance of ECJ oversight in some areas was a significant step—but also a basic EU requirement.

You can’t shape rules you won’t follow.

#TradeAndTech

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

🇬🇧 Sir Martin Donnelly:
EU couldn’t go deep without a clear mandate. Fear of UK “cherry picking” is real. No trust = no long-term strategy.

UK must think like a former member if it wants real gains.
#UKEUStarmerEra

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

🎙️ @pauladamsmith kicked off:

Why didn’t the UK-EU summit go deeper on trade? Was it timing? Trust? Political caution? Or just too complex right now?

#UKEUStarmerEra #TradeAndTech

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

🔵 Roundtable 2: Trade & Economic Strategy
How deep can UK-EU trade ties go in the #StarmerEra?

Chair: Paul Adamson
Speakers: Allie Renison, Sir Martin Donnelly, Anton Spisak

#UKEUStarmerEra #TradeAndTech

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

How might EU relations change if a Farage-led government emerges?

Is being in the middle on divisive issues a dangerous place to be?

#UKEUStarmerEra

Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

Interesting audience questions:

How do conservative parties across Europe position themselves, especially post-Brexit?

Is the UK’s “equidistant” stance between the US and EU sustainable?

Could Labour’s strategy lead to a reform-led government?

#Politics #Brexit #EU #UKPolitics

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Living with the Neighbours @ukandneighbours.bsky.social · May 28

@sophiestowers.bsky.social

Brexit may have faded from top voter concerns (only 6% see it as a major issue now), but divisions remain.

Pragmatic EU cooperation is supported on food standards & travel, yet fishing rights and migration still spark strong debate.

#Brexit #UKPolitics #UKEUStarmerEra