Sam Francis
Political reporter

Image source, Reuters

The UK and the EU have reached a new deal setting out post-Brexit relations on areas including fishing rights, trade and defence.

While we wait for more details, let's have a quick scan through the key elements of the series of deals:

On fishing...

• It will keep the current fishing status quo giving EU boats continued access to UK waters until 2038
• The UK will continue to agree yearly quotas with the EU and Norway and issue licences to control who fishes in its waters

On food...

• The UK will get reduced checks on food exports to the EU
• The new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement means the UK can sell raw burgers and sausages back into the EU for the first time since Brexit

On defence...

• A formal UK-EU defence and security pact has been established, which the government says "paves the way" for UK-based arms firms to access the Security Action for Europe (Safe) - a £150bn EU fund providing loans for defence projects

On passport checks and youth mobility scheme...

• The UK and the EU have agreed to co-operate further on a "youth experience scheme" - but this will be subject to further negotiations
• British holidaymakers will be able to use e-gates at more European airports - although it is not yet clear when this will come into force

Image source, EPA

As we've been reporting, Keir Starmer has just held a news conference with European Council President António Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

As we keep bringing you all the reactions and analysis, here’s a quick recap of what they’ve said:

• Starmer says Britain is back on the world stage and calls it a "landmark" deal between the EU and UK
• European Commission President von der Leyen calls it a "historic moment"
• Our political editor asks if Starmer has "sold out" UK fishermen to get this deal, but both Starmer and von der Leyen say the agreement could bring stability for people working in the fishing industry
• Starmer didn't give a figure when asked how many EU young people would be acceptable to come to the UK under the youth mobility scheme
• When asked if there are plans for the UK to re-join the customs union, European Council president António Costa says "this is the past"

Trade-offs for the EU deal remain but have changed in recent monthspublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 19 May

14:07 BST 19 May

Faisal Islam
Economics editor

There are trade-offs here, however.

Fishing concessions offered by Boris Johnson have been extended by 12 years, in exchange for a permanent arrangement on food and farm exports.

The fishing industry is worth £1bn a year in total, whereas food and farm exports to the EU alone are worth £10bn.

Even within fishing, these arrangements will help those selling into the EU, langoustines from South Shields that are the toast of Parisian restaurants, monkfish for Spain and Scottish salmon exported to Europe.

The UK will have to align with EU food standards as they change and have some input, if not a veto.

One of the principal objections to this, in the era of Brexit political turmoil, was that such a deal would shut out the possibility of global trade deals, especially the US.

The government has already signed some of the big global trade deals. The US administration itself has downplayed its concerns over changing UK food standards away from Europe.

So while trade-offs remain, the nature of those trade-offs has changed in recent months.

The EU deal should be worth more than India dealpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 19 May

14:07 BST 19 May

Faisal Islam
Economics editor

We have been watching the ins and outs of this deal for the last few months, but it has its roots in how Brexit altered the UK's relationship with the EU.

In particular, this move represents an attempt by the Labour government to deal with the economic frictions which were caused by the way Brexit was implemented by the previous administration.

This deal should solve some of the bureaucracy and red tape that Brexit brought on, in particular for food, farm and fish exports, and was one of the concrete promises of Labour’s general election manifesto.

In some ways it is a rather narrow economic deal. However, the UK’s trade with the EU is so colossal that it should be worth more than, for example, the India deal: £9bn a year by 2040, versus £5bn a year for India.

Image source, PA Media

The details of the deal were announced in a press release ahead of the prime minister’s news conference with António Costa and Ursula von der Leyen.

Shortly after the announcement, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was "gobsmacked" by the series of deals the prime minister has signed.

Badenoch called the deal "a sell-out on fishing" and said Keir Starmer has taken the UK "back to square one".

"We should be using opportunities of leaving the European Union and not taking steps back," she said.

Badenoch did welcome news on e-gates access in European countries and pet passports, but said she has concerns about what the UK has given away in concessions.

Image source, EPA

We're at the final part of the news conference, where Starmer shows some disbelief at how quickly today’s deal with the EU was delivered.

“In six months or so we’re able to agree this broad range ... of issues,” he says. “In the past I genuinely think it would have taken very much longer to reach any one of these strands of the agreement.”

Von der Leyen agrees, saying that for the EU’s €150 billion (£129.3 billion) security package, “it’s a question of - I hope - only a few weeks, and then we should be done.”

With that, the news conference marking the first ever post-Brexit summit between the EU and UK comes to a close.

Stay with us as we keep bringing you all the reactions and expert insights.

A Dutch news agency asks why a permanent solution to fishing wasn’t agreed and whether it’s still on the table in future talks and summits.

“What we have achieved today is looking forwards not backwards,” Starmer says.

Von der Leyen says the agreement brings stability for fishermen and fisherwomen on both sides of the English Channel.

Twelve years allows for good investment, she adds.

A journalist asks Starmer how many EU young people would be an acceptable number to come to the UK.

Von der Leyen is also asked if the EU will wait for a more detailed agreement before starting the scheme.

Starmer doesn’t give a specific figure, but says the scheme is not “uncapped”.

Everything will be done through “mutual agreements” going forward, he says.

Von der Leyen says what’s important is to sort out all the detail, but says the “political will” is clearly stated in the paper.

“This is good news for the young people,” she says.

Image source, Reuters

The press conference has now moved to questions from the EU press corps.

The first question is about how to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK.

Starmer says today's deal "builds on the agreements that we have", adding that his government will stick to the existing agreements with the EU.

Von der Leyen, when asked about the EU's lawsuit last year against the UK over free movement, says it is part of the "normal process" to seek legal clarity.

Costa goes further, saying "he's very satisfied" because there is now a roadmap to deliver for both EU and UK citizens.

European Council President António Costa is asked if there are any plans for the UK to re-join the customs union at future summits.

"This is the past," Costa replies. "Now with Keir Starmer we are turning the page. Look at the future, we are closing the gaps, but building on a new strategic partnership.

"A very ambitious road map not to return to the single market, not to return to the customs union but to do better together as neighbours, partners, allies and friends."

Image source, Reuters

Next, a journalist brings up the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, which earlier today called the new deal “a horror show for Scottish fishermen”.

The prime minister is then asked, "have you been stitched up like a kipper?"

Starmer repeats his earlier points about the “driving principles” being bills, jobs and borders.

He notes that the current fishing agreement was set to end in 2026, after which there would have been yearly negotiations - Starmer says that would have meant “no stability for anyone”.

A journalist challenges Keir Starmer about the 12-year fisheries deal and the youth scheme agreement, asking if people are criticising him for backsliding on Brexit.

Starmer says the deal is "balanced, reciprocal and has huge benefits" for the UK.

He says it delivers by driving down bills, creating more jobs, and keeping control of the borders.

Starmer also says supermarkets are welcoming the deal.

For several minutes, Starmer reminds the press why he believes it’s a “hugely ambitious” and “hugely important” deal the UK is getting from the EU today.

He points to access to EU funds for defence development and cutting red tape on carbon emission taxes.

He says the same goes for the possibility of the UK regaining access to the EU’s electricity market.

“E-gates [will] for many people be the first discernible difference,” he says, smiling.

He then takes a swipe at other unnamed leaders.

“Other governments have talked and talked and talked with great rhetoric about what they are going to achieve, and achieved little or nothing,” Starmer says.

“We rolled up our sleeves ... and we are delivering a very good deal for our country today.”

Von der Leyen adds that the deal reflects “shared interests”, especially in lowering energy prices and achieving independence in sourcing energy supplies.

Next, some questions from the media.

First up, BBC political editor Chris Mason challenges Starmer on if he has "sold out" UK fishermen to reach this new deal with the European Union.

Starmer replies that "the driving principles" of what has been agreed to are about "bills, jobs and borders".

The prime minister goes on to talk about the benefits of the SPS agreement, saying it is "incredibly important for fish".

"Fishing communities are able to sell more easily into the European market," Starmer says, adding that this deal "is good for fishermen".

• For context, SPS stands for sanitary and phytosanitary, which refers to rules about animals and food

Starmer says British holidaymakers will be able to use e-gates when travelling around the EU.

He says this will put an end to the "huge queues" at passport control.

Starmer has called on all EU members to co-operate without delay.

Looking at the deals agreed today, he says, "it's a long list, but it shows how much we have achieved".

He adds the UK is ready to work with all its partners to improve life for everyone at home.

"We can sell British burgers in the EU," Starmer says as he explains why the deal is good for the United Kingdom.

The prime minister says the deal is good for British steel and that the UK will work with and benefit from the EU's defence fund.

He insists the deals are "supporting British businesses, backing British jobs".

"We have acted today to strengthen our borders," Starmer continues.

Image source, Reuters

Now Starmer is speaking.

"Britain is back on the world stage," says Starmer, highlighting his government's recent deals with India and the US.

He describes it as a "landmark" deal between the EU and an "independent" UK, marking a "new era" in relations.

Starmer says the deal is a win-win, "the best of any country outside of the EU".

Von der Leyen talks about bringing more stability to people working in the fishing industry.

She also says there’s more for Northern Ireland to gain from both the European single market and the UK’s internal market.

Before ending her speech, von der Leyen turns to justice and migration.

"We are stepping up our cooperation to keep citizens safe," von der Leyen says, explaining there will be "more joined up work through Europol", the European police agency.

"Crime doesn't stop at borders, neither should our response," von der Leyen adds.

She finishes by thanking Starmer again and calling the deals "historic".

Von der Leyen says the EU and UK share climate goals.

She says there’s an investment deal that will tap into the "vast potential" the North Sea offers, especially for renewable energy.

Von der Leyen shares some personal memories as she welcomes the EU-UK deal on youth mobility.

“I am thinking back of my times as a student in London,” she says at the news conference.

“You fall in love with the city and the country” as a young person going abroad, she adds.

The European Commission chief says she’s pleased that the EU and UK have agreed to “allow the next generation to once again live and study in each other’s countries.”