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The European Commission is took Britain to court for its supposed failure adhere to EU freedom of movement law after Brexit.
In strike for sir Keir Starmer’s efforts to reset relations with the blocthe commission directed UK to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failings in the way it cooperated with post-Brexit countries withdrawal agreement.
It outlines several failings in Britain’s adherence to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which affects residents rights to live and work freely between EU member states. Britain was said to have ignored a series of warnings that its national laws were not in line with EU free movement laws at the end of 2020.
The commission’s complaint arose in May 2020, when it accused the United Kingdom of restricting the right to free movement of EU citizens and their family members. At the time, it sent a formal notice of appeal to the UK, and in July this year said that “several points remain unresolved”, highlighting in particular issues related to EU citizens and their family members exercising their rights to freedom of movement.
And on Monday, the commission said it had “carefully assessed” the UK’s responses to its complaints, but “claims that several elements of the complaints remain outstanding, including the rights of workers and the rights of extended family members”.
The UK’s referral to the bloc’s top court is a blow to Sir Keir as he desperately seeks closer ties with the EU. The prime minister has spent much of his first six months in office courting European leaders in a bid to hammer out a new deal with the EU that would cut red tape that has stifled growth since Brexit.
It also comes after it emerged that Brussels is preparing to ask the UK to follow EU law for the first time since Brexit as part of its plans for a new deal with the UK.
While Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted the UK will not rejoin the single market in his lifetime, he has pledged to “make Brexit work” by renegotiating the deal agreed by Boris Johnson and pushing for closer cooperation, particularly in areas of defense, security and trade.
A blueprint for European negotiators looking at a trade deal they’ve seen The Timesindicates that EU leaders plan to make the UK’s acceptance of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice a red line for improved trade relations.
The document also lists British fishing concessions and a youth mobility program as key priorities for the EU.
The document is expected to be presented to the council of European ministers next week, ahead of the start of formal negotiations between the UK and the EU which will begin early next year.
Sir Keir and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to hold regular EU-UK leaders’ summits, with the first to take place in early 2025.
The UK government has been approached for comment.