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Released over the weekend, the latest polling in The Times revealed that only 29% of the British public would vote Leave if a referendum were held today, marking a major shift in public opinion.

Sir Nick Harvey, former Minister for Armed Forces and CEO of European Movement UK, said:

"Whether it is the cost of living, issues with the NHS, or concerns over a loss of control on immigration - all of these concerns can be met more effectively by the UK working more closely with our neighbours in the European Union.

"This polling signals a clear and decisive change in the British public’s attitude towards Europe. This the latest sign that the heat has been taken out of the debate.

"Our movement is leading the charge to bury Brexit for good and turn the chapter on the UK-EU relationship."

Over the weekend, the European Union and the United States agreed the basis for a trade deal at President Trump’s golf course in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Trump dubbed it “the largest trade deal in history”.

This is a fast-moving situation, but here is what we know so far, and what the key players have said.

Before the meeting on Sunday, the EU was set to face 30% US tariffs “on most EU goods” from 1st August. 

Afterwards, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen released a statement, saying:

“Today's deal creates certainty in uncertain times.

“We have stabilised on a single 15% tariff rate for the vast majority of EU exports (into the US). This rate applies across most sectors, including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.

“Today we have also agreed on zero-for-zero tariffs on a number of strategic products. This includes all aircraft and component parts, certain chemicals, certain generics, semiconductor equipment, certain agricultural products, natural resources and critical raw materials. 

“And we will keep working to add more products to this list.

“On steel and aluminium… We will work together to ensure fair global competition. And to reduce barriers between us, tariffs will be cut. And a quota system will be put in place.

“We will also increase our energy cooperation… We will replace Russian gas and oil with significant purchases of US LNG, oil and nuclear fuels.

“US AI chips will help power our AI gigafactories and help the US to maintain their technological edge.

On the deal, President Trump said:

“We have reached a deal. It's a good deal for everybody.

"It's going to bring us closer together" (BBC News).

The new US 15% tariff that US buyers will pay on EU products is the same as on Japanese goods, whilst the UK faces a 10% tariff on most products.

As it stands, from 1st August the UK will face tariffs including:

• 25% on steel, aluminium and automobiles
• 10% on auto parts (which came into effect in May)
• Up to 50% on copper (Wise).

There is no getting away from the fact that President Trump’s move has been a success in US domestic political terms. Imposing selective tariff barriers to ‘protect’ key industries has long been a desire of the America First movement and Trump has done this while avoiding the catastrophic damage to the US and global economies that a 30% tariff would have caused.

Neither has he faced significant retaliation from trading partners, except China. This will skew the terms of global trade in the US’ favour.

But that does not mean there will be net benefits to the US economy - these are additional trade barriers that will damage all sides.

Furthermore, any claims made in the UK that these tariff outcomes somehow justify the UK leaving the EU are incorrect.

In 2021, the UK Trade Policy Observatory estimated that £2.5–3.5 billion worth of UK exports were hit by EU tariffs in the first year after Brexit. Now, about 10% of UK exports to the EU face tariffs for varying reasons.

Much remains unclear about the final details of both the UK and EU deals with the US. But one thing is certain. If being hit slightly less hard than the EU by US tariffs represents any marginal gain for the UK, it will be a tiny fraction of the massive cost of being outside the EU single market - which is between 3% and 5% of GDP every year.

Expect more developments on this story.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said musicians and artists from the UK are still finding it too difficult to work in the EU. The clip is viewable here.

Speaking on Monday to the Liaison Committee, the Prime Minister said that resetting the UK's relationship with the EU now meant there was 'a chance of going further' for UK artists.

European Movement UK has been campaigning for the Government to take action on touring visas to help artists who have seen work in the EU dry up since the UK left the European Union.

Find out more about our Face The Music campaign here, and watch first-hand stories of artists affected here.

Keir Starmer told the committee:

"I think many creative people who are crossing borders for their artistry, their music, whatever it may be, on a temporary basis, they're not going to another country for any significant period of time, they're still finding it too difficult to get in and out of a country and I hope we can make some progress there.

"These are common sense changes we could make to our arrangements with the EU, which had in my view very little to do with the vote in 2016, and where by resetting the mood in Europe we now have a chance of going further."

Actor Miriam Margolyes has teamed up with European Movement UK to highlight the plight of musicians and touring artists trying to work in the EU.

In a short animated film, she explains the effects leaving the European Union has had on the industry.

You can watch the film here:

Miriam Margolyes said:

"Brexit is not just a political disaster, it's a cultural one too, especially for our beloved artists. Brexit was a terrible mistake and no-one will own up to it. Art feeds the soul of a nation. Brexit starves that soul."

On Wednesday evening, leaders from across politics, industry and civil society gathered at Broadway House, London for the launch of the European Movement’s latest report, A New Agenda for UK–EU Energy, Climate, and Environment Cooperation, and a wider national campaign calling for a UK-EU Energy, Climate and Environment Partnership.

Just weeks after the pivotal UK–EU Summit in May, the event set out to seize the momentum from renewed agreements on energy security, emissions trading, and climate cooperation.

The panel, chaired by Caroline Lucas, Co-President of the European Movement UK, brought together prominent voices including former Energy and Climate Secretary Amber Rudd, Energy UK’s Chief Executive Dhara Vyas, Green Alliance’s Sarah Williams, Emilien Gasc from the EU’s UK delegation, and Young Greens’ Thomas Atkin-Withers.

Each speaker outlined the critical importance of closer UK–EU collaboration on clean energy, aligning carbon markets, and restoring nature across borders.

Now, the campaigning begins. We are all hands on deck to ensure that our policy recommendations feature at the next UK–EU Summit.

Read the report.

Sign the petition.

Today, European Movement UK has launched a major new policy report - and a wider national campaign - calling for a UK-EU Energy, Climate and Environment Partnership.

Exclusive data from new polling commissioned by European Movement UK reveals a clear and growing public consensus:

• 67% of UK voters want Britain to work with other countries to tackle climate change
• 69% support international action to prevent environmental damage
• 71% would support a formal UK-EU partnership to reduce energy bills and harmful chemicals, even if it meant applying some EU rules

The European Movement's latest report outlines a four-pillar Partnership to deliver practical, lasting benefits for the UK:

1. Linking carbon markets and rejoining the EU Internal Electricity Market
2. Full UK membership of the North Seas Energy Cooperation
3. Alignment on environmental and chemical safety standards
4. Rejoining strategic EU agencies and programmes -including the European Environment Agency and the LIFE Programme - to restore access to vital data, funding, and scientific collaboration.

Caroline Lucas, Co-President of European Movement UK, said:

“A UK-EU Green Partnership would deliver exactly what people want - a greener, healthier future.

"It would also cut climate emissions and lower household energy bills, protect and restore our shared environment and public health, and secure a seat at the table in shaping the rules that affect us. Above all, it would show that cooperation - not isolation - delivers for people and planet alike.

"Since leaving the EU, we’ve seen mounting and damaging divergence. The consequences are already being felt - in the decline of nature, rising bills, and even in the food on our plates. In some cases, the level of glyphosate - classified by the WHO as a ‘probable human carcinogen’ - is now 7.5 times higher in the UK than in the EU.

"We need the political courage to do what’s right. The time to act is now.”

Sir Nick Harvey, CEO of European Movement UK, added:

“This new Partnership is not just about rebuilding relationships - it’s about unlocking real economic benefits for the UK.

"By aligning with higher EU standards and rejoining key programmes, the UK can unlock green investment, support British exporters, and avoid billions in costs from duplication, divergence, and future tariffs.

"European Movement UK is proud to be leading the campaign for a credible, cooperative and future-facing relationship with Europe - and this report shows how we can get there.

"Voters are ready. Business is ready. Westminster needs to catch up.”

Find out more on the campaign page and join the call on the UK Government to work to join a UK-EU environmental partnership.

This week saw the first state visit by a European head of state to the UK since Brexit.

That sentence in itself speaks volumes, both about how damaging the vote to leave the EU was to the UK's relationship with its closest neighbours - but also showing concrete evidence that the frost is very much beginning to thaw.

Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer have, it's reported, met multiple times since the PM came to power just over a year ago. 'Closer ties' and a 'relationship reset' are phrases much-used since then, regarding Britain's relationship with EU member states. 

But while defence, a youth experience scheme and waiting times for UK passport holders have all filled hundreds of column inches, there are few things which anyone wanting much closer ties between the UK and EU can actually put their finger on and say, unequivocally, 'that's progress.'

But, perhaps, this week's state visit has finally changed that. 

On July 10th the Government announced 'Lancaster House 2.0': a declaration on modernising UK-French defence and security cooperation. It has no doubt received far less press attention that it deserves - most of the headlines have been about the '1-in-1-out' trial for dealing with the small-boat crisis. But it is real change, and the concrete cooperation so many are looking for that signals the new openness from the UK to the EU, after years of sulking in the corner.

The declaration says, 'The UK and France are willing and able to act together, decisively, to protect our shared interests, allies, partners in Europe and beyond, values and, fundamentally, our democratic way of life.'

That sentence feels like one we've been waiting for: friends again.

The declaration is wide-ranging, but among other things, it will see the creation of a Combined Joint Force, overhauling the current Combined Joint Expeditionary Force and seriously increasing its capacity ('up to fivefold'). It also says it will establish a 'mechanism to share, coordinate and synchronise military activity and the deployment of UK and French forces globally.' 

That suggests that such a mechanism does not yet exist - and creating one allies the UK to France, and the wider EU, in ways that are difficult to predict - but at the very least, it is the opposite of Brexit on a fundamental level: a recognition that we are stronger together, not apart.

Amongst the formal dinners ('a mixture of French and English cuisine'), royal audiences and accompanying pomp, there was a lot more on display here than the headlines suggest.

With Labour's red-lines on the single market and customs union, the 'relationship reset' between the UK and the EU has had little but warm words to be celebrated for the past twelve months. 

But, perhaps now, we can finally start to say, 'that's progress.'

Representatives of youth organisations, twinning associations, educational bodies, local government and grassroots activists met under the auspices of the European Local Partnerships and Twinning Group, ELPTG, in London, 26-27 June. The event was held at Europe House, Westminster, hosted by the European Parliament Liaison Office to the UK and in association with London4Europe.
Those addressing the meeting included HE Miguel Berger, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the UK, Sandro Gozi MEP, Co-Chair, EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, Wera Hobhouse MP, Vice Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Europe, Cllr David Gardner, Deputy Mayor, London Borough of Greenwich, Cllr Connie Nolan, Canterbury City Council/Kent County Council, Lucy Slack, Secretary-General, Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Sir Nick Harvey, CEO European Movement-UK, Maurizio Cuttin, UK Young Ambassador to Europe, British Youth Council and Alfred Quantrill, President Young European Movement. The Rt Hon The Lord Kinnock, former Vice President, European Commission, sent a message of support.
The meeting discussed successful local partnership and twinning experiences between the UK, notably London, and partners in the EU and looked at UK-EU Local Government Cooperation, Horizon Europe and new partnership funding opportunities, as well as local action taken in support of Ukraine. It also received the Chair’s report for 2024-25 and agreed its work programme for 2025-26.
Particular attention was devoted considering the next steps for UK-EU Youth Experience and Mobility including the possibility of the UK’s return to the Erasmus Plus scheme in the light of the decisions taken at the UK-EU London Summit held in May 2025; the European Parliament’s Ambassador School Programme was also discussed. The meeting was chaired by Dr Carl Wright.
The 2025 Meeting of the European Local Partnerships and Twinning Group, ELPTG, calls for:
1.
Early agreement on a comprehensive youth exchange/mobility scheme between the UK and the EU to allow young people the ability to travel, study and take part in work, cultural and other experience and exchange programmes freely without restriction, including school and student exchanges.
2.
The UK to rejoin the Erasmus Plus scheme forthwith, to provide the necessary financial means for all young people, especially those from less privileged backgrounds, to benefit from European exchanges.
3.
Ensuring that these provisions apply to young musicians, artists and other professions.
4.
The UK Government to provide active support, resources and encouragement to UK-EU twinning and local partnerships, aimed at promoting European awareness, economic, educational and cultural links, building on the initiatives by the French, German and other EU Governments and the European institutions; this should entail support for organisations like the British Youth Council, the UK Global Learning Association for Schools and the ELPTG, as well as for the promotion of foreign language teaching.
5.
The UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Europe to debate and promote the role of local and regional government and twinning/local partnerships as a way of strengthening UK-EU people-to people relations.
6.
Strategic engagement with Local Government, City Mayors and Devolved Governments to strengthen twinning /partnerships with European counterpart/support of new ones.
7.
Conclusion of official partnership agreements to support Ukrainian cities and partners.
The ELPTG expressed warm appreciation to the European Parliament Liaison Office to the UK, the European Movement-UK, London4Europe and all who had contributed to the success of the event.
Europe House, London, 27 June 2025 Further information: [email protected]

Words by European Movement member, Alan Mockford.

A thousand European flags adorned the streets of Richmond Upon Thames from 10th May until 9th June this year to celebrate the borough’s European partnerships with Fontainebleau in France & Konstanz in Germany.

One hundred pro-European events were staged by partnered clubs, associations and schools, involving tens of thousands of Richmond residents and 500 guests from France and Germany. There was some initial opposition from a few local anti-Europeans, who demanded that the flags were taken down. However, the council stood its ground and this small minority were quickly silenced by a sea of goodwill as the borough looked so beautiful. Who could possibly be against peace, friendship, sport, culture and educational opportunity?

A stunning new mural in the foyer of the wonderfully restored Art Deco Richmond station, featuring the three European towns, was greeted with universal acclaim and a month of celebrations reached a stupendous climax with a parade, Reaffirmation ceremony and concert on Sunday 8th June. The German Ambassador described the event as the most beautiful that he had attended in his three years here.

Demand for tickets for the performance by the European Youth Orchestra, comprising 100 musicians from Richmond, Fontainebleau, and Konstanz plus Lodi, in Italy, Sintra in Portugal and Alba Iulia in Romania, far exceeded supply. Consequently the concert, to a packed house in the Landmark Arts Centre, was streamed live to the world. When the audience joined the orchestra in a moving rendition of Auld Lang Syne to conclude the celebrations, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Watch the highlights of the Reaffirmation in Richmond here:

Our experience in Richmond confirmed that we must actively promote the benefits of European co-operation and friendship, and not leave the stage to Farage and his cronies to peddle their poison.

For further information about the Reaffirmation, find out more here.