Today's deal allows the UK and EU to begin discussion on British access to the fund (Image: Getty)
Claims that Keir Starmer’s UK/EU post-Brexit agreement will allow Britain to access an EU defence pact have been rubbished by MPs, as it emerges that the agreement simply allows negotiations on entry to begin. Earlier today, the Prime Minister announced a series of arrangements with the bloc that will fundamentally alter the relationship between the two in areas such as fishing, energy and travel.
One of the highlights of the agreement was the ability of British defence firms to participate in a €150 billion EU rearmament fund, allowing them to compete for business that otherwise would have been reserved for member states. However the agreement has been widely criticised over the failure to ensure British access to the fund, instead allowing the UK to begin dialogue over potential participation in the framework. Shadow defence minister and chair of the European Research group Mark Francois, told the Daily Express: “This disastrous deal is an abject surrender to the EU, for virtually nothing in return.
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Starmer made the announcement today alongside Ursula von der Leyen (Image: Getty)
“We have capitulated on fishing rights for an unbelievable twelve years - the ‘dirty dozen over fish’ - whilst accepting becoming a passive rule-taker on food standards, in return for a ‘defence pact’ with no figures which is basically a glorified talking shop.
“Starmer has betrayed Britain for a mess of pottage, without even a pot.”
His words were echoed by Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge who said: “Isn’t this the truth: we’ve surrendered our fishing grounds for at least 12 years, and we will become a passive rule-taker… and in exchange all we have is a glorified talking shop and not a penny of guaranteed defence funding?”
A document published by the government in the wake of the announcement stated: “The European Commission and the United Kingdom share the view that it is in the mutual interest of the EU and the United Kingdom to strengthen their cooperation on security and defence.
“The Partnership represents a framework for dialogue and cooperation on security and defence.”
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The UK will now begin discussions on entering €150 billion EU rearmament fund (Image: Getty)
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President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen described the deal as “the first step towards U.K. participation in Europe’s defence investment programme.”
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Writer and commentator Eliot Wilson said: "The long-awaited UK-EU defence agreement is incredibly thin. It’s basically a series of promises by both sides to talk to each other. Virtually no concrete commitments.”
Access to the EU’s Security Action for Europe (Safe) fund would allow the Government to participate in a scheme estimated to raise ￡127 billion from the EU’s budget to purchase weapons from manufacturers in participating countries.
Inclusion in the programme would allow British companies such as Babcock and BAE Systems to bid for and win contracts across Europe.