The agreement announced by the UK and EU on 19 May promises closer UK-EU cooperation. Vera Spyrakou argues the reset deal should be the first step toward moving beyond Brexit and establishing a more flexible and pragmatic UK-EU relationship.

In the shadow of Brexit, the relationship between the UK and the European Union has often been viewed through a lens of rupture and loss. But as the dust settles and new challenges reshape global politics, a fresh conversation is emerging.

The recent UK-EU Summit and the announcement of a Common Understanding invite us to see this relationship not as a closed chapter, but as a living, evolving political space. Instead of fixating on a simple choice – whether to reset relations or rejoin the EU – this moment calls for imagining a spectrum of possibilities where cooperation, trust and shared democratic values can flourish.

From disintegration to strategic re-engagement

Brexit was a moment of disintegration, but not the end of the story. Today’s global challenges and geopolitical shifts, fragile multilateralism and disorder demand that we see the EU-UK relationship as a flexible, strategic space for political change. This means embracing differentiated integration, regulatory alignment where possible and a pragmatic politics of proximity.

Beyond institutional frameworks and legal arrangements, what also comes into focus is the role of shared norms, identities and mutual perceptions. A constructivist lens reminds us that the EU-UK relationship is not only structured by treaties but shaped by how each side understands itself in relation to the other.

Trust, recognition and political imagination are not auxiliary – they are constitutive forces in shaping what forms of cooperation become thinkable. Key EU tools like the “Brussels effect” and foreign policy instruments still matter. Whether this relationship can evolve beyond transactional cooperation toward shared norms remains an open question. The “reset vs rejoin” debate reflects a spectrum of strategic possibilities, not a stark choice.

Anchoring in foundational agreements

The Common Understanding between the UK and EU reaffirms the continued importance of the Withdrawal Agreement (including the Windsor Framework) and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). These remain the backbone of bilateral relations. Notably, agreements on fisheries through 2038 and extended energy cooperation provide much-needed predictability.

Yet the 19 May summit also marked a deliberate turning point. Beyond affirming foundational agreements, the agenda focused on strategic areas where both parties see value in renewed cooperation. These include defence and security collaboration, with the launch of a structured security and defence partnership. They also include energy integration, including potential UK involvement in EU electricity markets and closer cooperation on renewables, grid interconnectivity and emissions standards.

Other strategic areas are youth and mobility, with plans to explore a reciprocal youth mobility scheme and negotiations on UK re-association with Erasmus+, and border and migration management, where EU-UK cooperation on data systems and the rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System was agreed. In relation to research and innovation, exploratory discussions are taking place on UK participation in Horizon Europe successor frameworks. Finally, with respect to culture and civil society, there is renewed attention on the needs of touring artists, heritage exchanges and funding for cross-border initiatives.

This multi-issue agenda, though practical in tone, points toward a broader political horizon. This is a future in which the EU and UK will be able to collaborate meaningfully without needing to revive the institutional relationships of the past.

Security, defence and strategic coordination

In a changing security landscape, the UK and EU will formalise cooperation on Ukraine, cybersecurity, defence innovation and military mobility. The UK’s potential participation in the EU’s SAFE instrument reflects shared concerns over strategic autonomy and defence readiness.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised unity in the face of global threats, particularly in support for Ukraine, stating: “We have to put Ukraine in a position of strength, so that it has the means to fortify itself and to protect itself… basically turning Ukraine into a steel porcupine that is indigestible for potential invaders.” These remarks highlight a growing understanding that EU-UK cooperation in defence is central to both sides’ strategic outlook.

Maritime security is also high on the agenda, with plans for greater cooperation on port safety, autonomous vessels and maritime cyber threats. Both sides committed to deepening coordination within the International Maritime Organisation and aligning protocols on maritime incident reporting.

Energy cooperation is also poised to deepen, with the UK exploring participation in the EU internal electricity market and potential alignment on environmental standards and state aid. These arrangements will be shaped by the Windsor Framework and constitutional safeguards, but they signal a broader realignment of economic cooperation.

Societal connections – youth, culture and borders

Perhaps one of the most hopeful elements of the summit was the renewed commitment to people-to-people ties. Plans for a youth mobility scheme enabling structured pathways for study, work and volunteering were an obvious signal of a cultural thaw between the UK and the EU.

Discussions on the UK’s association with Erasmus+ and support for artistic mobility represent mutual recognition that societal connections can and should endure institutional changes. On borders, the agreement to maintain eGate access for UK and EU citizens, even as new digital entry systems are introduced, is a small but symbolic nod to preserving ease of movement where possible.

A constructive reset, not a romanticised return

This moment calls not for nostalgia or a rush to rejoin, but for a constructive, forward-looking reset. The common understanding shows that while institutional ties have changed, shared values, democratic commitments and practical cooperation endure.

Importantly, this evolving relationship may offer a model for how mature democracies can navigate divergence without hostility. Reset and rejoin are not mutually exclusive – they are points along a continuum where strategy, values and imagination converge. Rather than retreating into nostalgia or hardened positions, both sides are exploring a pragmatic, forward-looking reset that honours their shared past while embracing new forms of partnership.

This debate invites policymakers and citizens alike to think beyond binaries and imagine a future where strategy, values and mutual trust guide the way forward. This is not just a story about two neighbours – it is a hopeful blueprint for managing difference in a fractious world. While the goal of the UK one day rejoining the EU may not be impossible, the reset in relations is setting political conditions today for a constructive partnership.

Note: This article gives the views of the author, not the position of EUROPP – European Politics and Policy or the London School of Economics. Featured image credit: European Union