Keir Starmer is accused of ‘bending the knee’ to Brussels over a new customs deal with the EU_Nhy
Keir Starmer was accused of ‘bending the knee’ to Brussels after he opened the door to a new customs deal with the EU.
Downing Street signalled the Prime Minister will consider a new offer from Brussels to join the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, which aims to reduce customs barriers between the EU and neighbouring countries.
EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic today said that British membership of the convention was ‘something we could consider’ as part of the ‘reset’ in relations sought by Sir Keir.
Europe minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told MPs that ministers ‘do not currently have any plans’ to sign up to the agreement.
But Downing Street later opened the door to the move. The PM’s official spokesman declined to give a ‘running commentary’ but said the arrangement did not breach the PM’s ‘red lines’, which include rejoining the EU’s customs union and single market and reviving free movement of people.
‘The arrangement that’s been discussed is not a customs union,’ he said. ‘Our red line has always been that we will never join a single market, freedom of movement, but we’re just not going to get ahead of those discussions.’
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel claimed Labour was taking a ‘disgraceful’ approach of ‘bending the knee to the EU’.
She added: ‘These latest reports that the Government might shackle us to the European Union are deeply concerning, and once again make clear that Keir Starmer and his chums are all too happy to put their ideology ahead of our national interest, no matter the cost.’
Downing Street signalled that Sir Keir will consider a new offer from Brussels to join the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, which aims to reduce customs barriers between the EU and neighbouring countries
EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic (pictured) today said that British membership of the convention was ‘something we could consider’ as part of the ‘reset’ in relations
Sir Keir has made a ‘reset’ of relations with the EU a key foreign policy priority. But he has yet to spell out to the public – or the EU – exactly what he is seeking and what he is prepared to concede in return.
Mr Sefcovic said the idea of Britain joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM) had not been ‘precisely formulated’, adding: ‘The ball is in the UK’s court.’
The PEM comprises a string of north African and Middle Eastern countries alongside others like Ukraine, Turkey and Georgia, which are close to the EU.
Under the terms of the Brexit trade deal, exports from the UK to the EU do not attract tariffs provided a certain percentage of the parts and ingredients originate from this country.
A British manufacturer exporting fabrics made mainly from Egyptian cotton would currently face tariffs. But this would change if Britain joined the PEM as Egypt is also a member, allowing both countries to bypass the EU’s ‘rules of origin’ regime.
Labour MP Stella Creasy, chair of the Labour Movement for Europe, said joining the arrangement ‘would help cut the paperwork connected to rules of origin requirements which is why we have long argued it should be a priority for the UK as one way to undo the damage to trade leaving the EU has done’.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said ruling out the PEM proposal would be an ‘act of economic negligence’.
But a study by the Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy last year found that any advantage to the UK was likely to be ‘minimal’ as British exports to the UK only contain a very small proportion of parts and ingredients from other PEM countries, typically less than three per cent.
Europe minister Nick Thomas-Symonds (pictured) told MPs that ministers ‘do not currently have any plans’ to sign up to the agreement
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel (pictured) claimed Labour was taking a ‘disgraceful’ approach of ‘bending the knee to the EU’
EU flags outside Brussels. Sir Keir has made a ‘reset’ of relations with the EU a key foreign policy priority. But he has yet to spell out to the public – or the EU – exactly what he is seeking
Mr Sefcovic also warned that Labour’s plan for a new ‘veterinary agreement’ with the EU could require food producers to follow evolving EU rules in the sector.
He told the BBC that if UK food and farm products were given single market treatment, ‘we would have to have the same rules and we have to upgrade them at the same time – we call it dynamic alignment’.
In the Commons, Cabinet Office minister Mr Thomas-Symonds was asked by the Conservatives to rule out dynamic alignment.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart said the step ‘potentially brings the European court back into having jurisdiction over the United Kingdom’.
He added: ‘Will he rule out the European Court of Justice having jurisdiction over the UK in any regard in future?’
Mr Thomas-Symonds responded: ‘We’ve set out our red lines in our manifesto, we’ve set out the examples of things we are seeking to negotiate. That is already there.’
