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They say you never forget your first love. And looking at recent headlines, it seems the EU and the UK are considering getting back together. Or at least, becoming friends with benefits.
But what benefits are we actually talking about?
First, the done deal: Erasmus is back.
Starting in 2027, British students can once again study at EU universities, and vice versa. It is a massive U-turn. The UK government agreed to pay around €650 million a year to rejoin.
Second, the stuck deal: defence.
The plan was for the UK to join SAFE, the EU’s €150 billion defence fund. But talks collapsed over the entry fee, as the Brits found the price too high.
So while Canada, which is an ocean away, successfully joined, the door remains open, but only if London pays up.
Finally, the forbidden fruit: a Customs Union.
And businesses want it to cut red tape, and Brussels officially has an “open mind.” But for the UK government, it looks like reversing Brexit. So despite the economic pressure, the political answer remains a firm “no, sir.”
So, where does that leave us?
We are not seeing a full reunion. Instead, we are seeing a patchwork relationship.
So the two are friendly enough to have dinner together. But strictly split the bill.
And no sharing dessert.
Watch the Euronews video in the player above for the full story.