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ukandneighbours.bsky.social
Living with the Neighbours
@ukandneighbours.bsky.social
@ESRC Project looking at EU–UK relationship and UK bilateral relations with countries in EU and wider Europe
@PAISWarwick @ukandeu.bsky.social @husseinkassim.bsky.social
📍 Coventry
🌐 livingwiththeneighbours.co.uk
🎥 Missed it? Catch up on key takeaways from The Starmer Government and Europe: Resetting Relations in Turbulent Times conference. The highlights here ⤵️
🔗 ukandeu.ac.uk/videos/the-s...
The Starmer government and Europe: resetting relations in turbulent times: conference round up - UK in a changing Europe
Held in the immediate aftermath of the first post-Brexit EU–UK summit, this event brought together practitioners and academics to reflect on the...
ukandeu.ac.uk
June 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
@husseinkassim.bsky.social Does the UK truly value people-to-people ties post-Brexit? 🇬🇧
May 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
@monikameislova.bsky.social From Prague’s view, Brexit helped rebalance the historically UK-dominant bilateral relationship, giving the Czech Republic more visibility and influence.

Between 2022-24, new sectoral agreements have paved the way for practical collaboration.

#UKEUStarmerEra
May 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
@adonispegasiou.bsky.social - Cyprus-UK ties run deep, shaped by history and strategic links. With the UK as a UN Security Council member, Cyprus relies on its support.

Despite surprises over Brexit, Cyprus aimed to maintain strong, balanced relations with the UK. #UKEUStarmerEra
May 28, 2025 at 4:28 PM
At #UKEUStarmerEra Panel 5, @ignacio-molina.bsky.social highlighted Spain’s pragmatic approach to Brexit: regret over the UK's departure, yet acknowledgment that post-Brexit disruption, especially economically, has been limited.
May 28, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Panel 5: Final views from the national capitals

🇪🇸 @ignacio-molina.bsky.social
🇨🇾 @adonispegasiou.bsky.social
🇨🇿 @monikameislova.bsky.social

Migration, trust, state strategy
Chair: @husseinkassim.bsky.social
#UKEUStarmerEra #EuropeSpeaks
May 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
📢 Last panel of the day coming up!
Join us live at the conference "The Starmer Government and Europe: Resetting relations in turbulent times."

🎥 Watch the livestream here:
🔗 www.youtube.com/live/OZAhw_r...

#UKEUStarmerEra #UKPolitics #EUrelations
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May 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
🔵 Roundtable 2: Trade & Economic Strategy
How deep can UK-EU trade ties go in the #StarmerEra?

Chair: Paul Adamson
Speakers: Allie Renison, Sir Martin Donnelly, Anton Spisak

#UKEUStarmerEra #TradeAndTech
May 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Interesting audience questions:

How do conservative parties across Europe position themselves, especially post-Brexit?

Is the UK’s “equidistant” stance between the US and EU sustainable?

Could Labour’s strategy lead to a reform-led government?

#Politics #Brexit #EU #UKPolitics
May 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
@sophiestowers.bsky.social

Brexit may have faded from top voter concerns (only 6% see it as a major issue now), but divisions remain.

Pragmatic EU cooperation is supported on food standards & travel, yet fishing rights and migration still spark strong debate.

#Brexit #UKPolitics #UKEUStarmerEra
May 28, 2025 at 1:56 PM
@sophiestowers.bsky.social How much has shifted on Brexit in just a few years?

Around half now say Brexit was the wrong decision, with younger voters, who couldn't vote in 2016 against it.

That’s reshaping the space for talks though some remain skeptical.

#Brexit #UKPolitics #UKEUStarmerEra
May 28, 2025 at 1:55 PM
John Curtice on Brexit & Labour in 2024:

Labour’s support is slipping among both Leave & Remain voters.

Brexit still shapes politics deeply, especially on issues like fish quotas.

Public opinion hinges on how these are framed - opportunity vs. sovereignty.

#BrexitReset #UKEUStarmerEra
May 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Panel 4: Labour’s Strategy
@timbale.bsky.social, John Curtice, @sophiestowers.bsky.social , @simonusherwood.bsky.social
Chair: @sarahobolt.bsky.social
Labour faces polling & policy constraints
#UKEUStarmerEra #LabourAndEurope
May 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Panel 3: Dublin & The Hague 🇮🇪🇳🇱

Focus: Ireland on trust & NI stability; Netherlands on regulatory coordination & energy cooperation
Chair: @kirstywarner.bsky.social

#UKEUStarmerEra #BilateralRelations
May 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
🇨🇭 Panel 2: Bern
René Schwok outlines Switzerland’s balancing act with the EU

“Snowplough theory” of UK-led EU deals? Dead.

Swiss-UK ties: pragmatic, sectoral, and slow.

Non-tariff barriers as a sticking point.

Chair: @cleodavies.bsky.social

#UKEUStarmerEra #NeighbourStates
May 28, 2025 at 11:19 AM
SAFE isn’t a blank cheque.

65% of funds must stay in EU/Norway/Ukraine

Non-EU states must partner with an EU member

UK’s in—but does it know the price of entry?

Poland: key player, quieted by internal gridlock

#Geopolitics #DefencePolicy #UKandEU #UKEUStarmerEra
May 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
🚨 Audience spotlight: The EU’s defence game is fragmenting by design.

Regional plans are replacing central command (Med ≠ Arctic ≠ Baltics)

Bilateral & trilateral pacts are the new normal

SAFE is a breakthrough: EU funds now flowing beyond the bloc

#EUdefence #SAFEinitiative #UKEUStarmerEra
May 28, 2025 at 10:52 AM
📢 Join us live at the conference "The Starmer Government and Europe: Resetting relations in turbulent times."

Watch the livestream here:
🔗 www.youtube.com/live/OZAhw_r...

#UKEUStarmerera #UKPolitics #EUrelations
The Starmer Government and Europe: Resetting relations in turbulent times
YouTube video by Hussein Kassim
www.youtube.com
May 28, 2025 at 10:41 AM
🔵 Roundtable 1: Defence in the Trump 2.0 Era
Speakers: @edrusi.bsky.social, @nvondarza.bsky.social, susmonika.bsky.social, @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social
Chair: @anandmenon.bsky.social

The UK must now navigate NATO, EU defence, and a potential Trump return. #UKEUStarmerEra #DefencePolicy
susmonika.bsky.social
visiting prof @Hertie_security, working at @ENGAGE_Europe, visiting fellow at @EUI_Schuman, associate prof @ISPPAN / but most of all sea & #kitesurfing addict
susmonika.bsky.social
May 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by Living with the Neighbours
🇪🇺 Ambassador to the 🇬🇧 Pedro Serrano speaking about the #reset in relations @ukandneighbours.bsky.social @husseinkassim.bsky.social… the number plate on the ambassador’s car = a legacy of the Brexit negotiations. A reminder of how far 🇬🇧&🇪🇺 have come in the rapprochement
May 28, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Just heard a powerful keynote by Pedro Serrano chaired by @jillongovt.bsky.social

Talking about a new era in UK-EU relations.

It’s not just about politics, but a real turning point for how Europe builds prosperity, security, and stronger people-to-people connections.

🇬🇧🇪🇺 #UKEUStarmerEra
May 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Panel 1: Berlin up now 🇩🇪

Eva Heidbreder outlines Germany’s position:

No turning back — focus is on moving forward
EU-first approach remains strong
Car industry still a key factor
Brexit fatigue was real
But there’s renewed interest - a Friendship Agreement?

#UKEUStarmerEra #EuropeViews
May 28, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Panel 1: Paris up first

🇫🇷 Pauline Schnapper: Fisheries of course, Coalition of the willing.

Is everything wonderful? Maybe not.

The challange of UK cherry picking and lack of shared political ambitions regarding EU.

Chair: @jillongovt.bsky.social
#UKEUStarmerEra #EuropeViews
May 28, 2025 at 9:06 AM
@cleodavies.bsky.social UK’s stance on Western Balkans?

Iain Gill:
- Strong historic ties + ongoing investment
- Tackling corruption
- Working with the EU — but it’s their choice on accession!
- A collective effort, whatever their destination

#UKEUStarmerEra #LivingWithTheNeighbours
May 28, 2025 at 8:58 AM
@anandmenon.bsky.social What if we’d built this UK-EU partnership sooner? 🤔

Iain Gill: A broad security pact and regular talks by 2020 could have had stronger cooperation on trade, security & the Russia response.

We now have a menu of future cooperation options

#UKEUStarmerEra
May 28, 2025 at 8:43 AM