John Campbell
NI economics and business editor

A deal on food and agriculture will have the most consequence in Northern Ireland, with the potential to substantially dismantle the "Irish Sea border" between the region and the rest of the UK.

After Brexit, the UK and EU agreed Northern Ireland would stay inside the EU’s single market for goods. This was to ensure no hardening of the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The flip side is that goods coming into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK now face checks and a blizzard of paperwork to ensure they meet EU standards - this is the Irish Sea border.

It has a particular impact on food as Northern Ireland’s supermarkets are still largely supplied from distribution centres in England and Scotland.

If Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK end up following the same EU rules on food, there will be no need for checks and regulatory paperwork as products cross the sea border.

However, this sort of deal will not end the sea border entirely. Short of the UK rejoining the EU’s customs union, goods being shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will still need customs declarations.

Sir Keir Starmer is meeting EU leaders in central London today, and is set to announce deals that could reshape post-Brexit relations.

Here’s a quick recap of what’s happened so far.

• The full details aren’t out yet, but the BBC understands the UK and EU have agreed a new deal, including a 12-year agreement allowing EU fishing boats in UK waters
• In return, the UK has secured a deal to reduce checks on food exports to the EU
• A defence and security pact is also expected to be a key part of the deals being announced today
• Other elements, like a youth mobility scheme, still need more negotiation
• Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds tells the BBC that the government wants people “to see and feel immediate benefits”
• Critics, including Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, have warned against Britain “surrendering” to the EU

More details are expected at a news conference this afternoon. Stick with us.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now welcoming EU leaders in central London for the summit.

As we've mentioned, there will be a formal meeting, followed by a news conference, which we expect in the early afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

More from Business Secretary Jonathon Reynolds, who spoke to BBC Radio 4's Today programme earlier.

Talking about trade barriers, he says there’s "no real reason" British sausages shouldn’t be sold in the EU.

"We've got a situation where, after Brexit, we've got the same food standards in place on both sides of the border, yet our agricultural food exports are down by a fifth," the business secretary says.

"You can't sell some products at all – I mean, a British sausage made in my constituency. You can't sell those. Can't sell burgers.

"We've got no real reason for that situation continuing, and, where we can work with our partners, where we can remove costs, where we can remove friction, that means cheaper bills in the long run."

Image source, PA Media

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has wrapped up his morning interviews with different media outlets.

Earlier, we shared some of his comments on BBC Breakfast where he said he wants people to "see and feel immediate benefits".

Reynolds has also rated the deal as a "solid eight" out of 10.

"I'm not the kind of man to get hyperbolic about these things, but look, this is a good deal for borders, for bills, for security in the UK and for jobs," he told GB News.

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, EPA

Government sources - knowing they will take a lot of heat over the 12-year fishing deal - are leaning into the other side of the bargain.

"SPS is key part of package," texts one figure close to the detail.

SPS is Whitehall speak for sanitary and phytosanitary and translates to animal and food rules.

In other words, ministers will talk up what they see as the significant advantages, demanded by the supermarkets and others, of reduced friction in this trade into the EU.

But the fishing industry told the BBC this morning that is of limited value to them.

More broadly, expect to hear the prime minister and senior ministers talk up what they see as the gains on "jobs, bills and the border" — the trio of priorities they are repeating more and more often at the moment.

We should see the full agreement and details at around midday.

A trade body leader from the fishing industry says "it's an absolutely disastrous outcome for the Scottish fishing fleet", commenting on the 12-year deal agreed on fishing access for EU boats in UK waters.

Elspeth Macdonald, who represents more than four hundred fishing boats as chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, described the deal on the Good Morning Scotland programme as a "total capitulation to the EU".

She says the multi-year deal means the industry loses any leverage it would have had through annual negotiations, "so therefore the EU continues to take a far bigger share".

"It would be a terrible deal for Scottish fishermen," she says.

Image source, Getty Images

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

Sources are confirming to me that the UK’s willingness to extend EU fishing quotas to 2038 - revealed this morning by Chris Mason - was the concession which resolved the talks late last night.

In return, the UK secured an agreement that the aspect of the deal reducing checks on food exports to the EU would stand alone rather than being tied to any future negotiations over fish.

Politically, there are some concerns in government about an angry response from the British fishing industry, but also hope that they can persuade those who are concerned that the overall deal means it will be easier for UK companies to sell the fish they do catch into EU markets.

Later today the government will also unveil a “fishing and coastal growth fund”, which will be £360 million of investment in coastal communities.

Why are the EU and Britain making deals again?published at 09:42 British Summer Time 19 May

09:42 BST 19 May

Jessica Parker
Reporting from Brussels

What’s driving Brussels to build up a closer relationship with Britain?

Time has certainly been something of a healer. The divorce was messy. The post-divorce period was also, at times, turbulent, as the two sides became bogged down in a dispute about trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Since then, the relationship has moved on, with a more EU-friendly Labour government now in power.

But, importantly, the global context has shifted dramatically. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Donald Trump has re-entered the White House, upending transatlantic security norms in the process. Deeper co-operation on defence with the UK – a major defence power – makes sense for the EU now more than ever.

While a package deal, and the bargaining that comes with it, presents a chance for member states to press other issues that have niggled them.

A big one is the desire to make it easier for young people to come to the UK and study at its prestigious universities.

It is unsurprising that fishing rights have been lumped into all of this, as the post-Brexit deal on fisheries was due to expire next year.

Image source, PA Media

We're starting to hear the first reactions from opposition parties after a 12-year deal was agreed on fishing access for EU boats in UK waters.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says that with the fishing deal now confirmed, "we’re becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again".

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman says the government has "let down our fishing community".

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says: "If true that will be the end of the fishing industry."

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice is also critical, saying "Starmer surrenders", "sells out fishing", and adds that Reform UK "will repeal this when we win the general election".

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As we've been reporting, a 12-year deal has been agreed on fishing access for EU boats in UK waters.

It's still not clear what other deals might be announced today, but here are some of the issues that have been under discussion.

Security pact: In earlier Brexit talks, there was talk of a Security and Defence Partnership, but nothing was settled. Now, a new UK-EU security pact has been in the pipeline for months, and it's expected to be a key part of today's deal.

Veterinary deal: The UK wants to sign a “veterinary” deal to remove some border checks on food and drink. But this could be politically risky, as it would mean the UK aligning some of its food and drink rules with the EU, and keeping in step with Brussels over time.

Youth mobility: The EU has suggested a "youth mobility scheme" for 18 to 30-year-olds, allowing stays of up to four years. The Conservative government said no, but Labour recently hinted a “controlled youth mobility scheme” could be helpful. This is now subject to further negotiation, as our political editor Chris Mason understands.

• You can find out more about these issues here

Jessica Parker
Reporting from Brussels

A new UK-EU fishing deal will last until 2038, according to two EU diplomats.

One source said they could not go into details but another said it amounted to a rollover of the existing terms.

They said the text as it currently reads says: “We note the political agreements leading to full reciprocal access to waters to fish until 30 June 2038 and extending energy co-operation on a continuous basis.”

Current provisions had been due to expire next year. Brussels had been seeking a multi-year access settlement.

Downing Street has been approached for comment.

Chris Mason
Political editor

A deal has been done between the UK and the European Union.

A 12-year deal has been done on fishing access for EU boats into UK waters, which will no doubt prompt a big row.

The government will argue it has secured improved trading rights for food and agricultural products into the European Union.

A defence and security pact will be central to the deal set out in a few hours.

Both sides will emphasise the shared desire for deepening co-operation.

Other key elements will still be subject to further negotiation, such as the idea of a youth mobility scheme.

Image source, Getty Images

A topic we might hear more about today is airport border queues.

Yesterday, on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed the UK is pushing for UK passport holders to use EU e-gates.

When Brexit ended freedom of movement, it changed the rules for people travelling to European countries. Now, British passport holders can't use "EU/EEA/CH" lanes at EU border crossings.

They still don't need a visa for short trips to the Schengen area, but there's a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period.

Is Britain really inching back towards the EU?published at 08:08 British Summer Time 19 May

08:08 BST 19 May

Damian Grammaticas
Political correspondent

Image source, EPA

Before Brexit, British prime ministers would travel to Brussels four times a year or more for summits with the heads of the EU's institutions and its 27 member states.

The haggling would go on late into the night. After Brexit those large summits stopped.

Now, the Labour government, elected last year on a manifesto that promised "an improved and ambitious relationship with our European partners", envisages new and regular interactions with the EU. Monday's marks the first.

Keir Starmer will host the most senior EU leaders to launch a new "partnership".

Pedro Serrano, the EU ambassador to London, has described it as the "culmination of enhanced contacts at the highest levels since the July 2024 [UK] elections". But what will it amount to?

• Read more here

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been speaking live on BBC Breakfast, saying the fine details of any agreements are still being worked on.

"There is a big prize here," Reynolds tells the BBC.

"I can't tell you at this stage that it is all done, but I can tell you it has been very promising, there have been some breakthroughs and fundamentally it is about making people in this country better off."

Reynolds says the government wants "people to see and feel immediate benefits" and adds that "parliamentary sovereignty will be retained".

Jessica Parker
Reporting from Brussels

Image source, EPA

Talks have gone to the wire; it was ever thus.

Yesterday, as negotiations stretched on into the evening, an EU diplomat told me that Brussels needed “strong guarantees” on issues that matter most to member states – such as fisheries, energy and youth mobility.

Any “reset” must be “win-win” for both sides, they said.

Yet, despite any last-minute warning shots and haggling behind closed doors, be in no doubt; an agreement was almost certainly going to be signed off today one way or another.

The arrangements for a "deal done" moment have been made. The proverbial red carpet rolled out in readiness. Calling things off now would have been too embarrassing, for both sides.

Now, as we look to the day ahead, it is the details of this agreement that will really matter.

Image source, Ken Banks/BBC

Conservative MP and shadow secretary of state for Scotland Andrew Bowie insists any fresh agreement with the EU should not be "done at any price".

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Bowie says as the opposition party the Tories have set out three points which test Sir Keir Starmer's deal.

"We shouldn't be rule takers from the European Union, we shouldn't be selling off our fishing industry off to the European Union and should make sure no new money is being sent off to the EU."

Bowie adds that the Tories have little confidence that Labour have agreed a deal which serves the best interests of the UK.

"An improvement is always good, but a full reset I don't think is required," he says.

Here's a quick look at what to expect as the UK and the European Union get ready to announce a series of deals at a summit in central London.

Sir Keir Starmer is set to welcome EU leaders at Lancaster House this morning.

There'll be a formal meeting, followed by a news conference, which we expect in the early afternoon.

Our team will be digging into the details of any deal and sharing views from across the political spectrum. Stay with us as we explain what it all means.