EuroQuestions | Breakup, Reconciliation and Rapprochement: What Future for Relations Between the United Kingdom and Europe?
Speakers
Joël Reland Research Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe
EuroQuestions : Season 2026, Episode 11
* This EuroQuestions will be held in French
Date / Location :
Online, upon registration
25th June 2026, de 10:30 à 11:30 (CET)
Title :
Breakup, Reconciliation and Rapprochement: What Future for Relations Between the United Kingdom and Europe?
Context :
June 23 will mark the tenth anniversary of the referendum that led to Brexit. A political earthquake that profoundly reshaped the landscape: in the United Kingdom, by forcing the country to redefine its place in the world at the cost of a decade of significant internal turbulence; in Europe, at a time when some feared a domino effect.
Since 2016, relations between London and Brussels have been dominated by lengthy negotiations, particularly on Northern Ireland, culminating in a trade and cooperation agreement whose tensions remain visible. Coming to power in 2024 with a promise of a “reset,” Keir Starmer’s Labour government has initiated a cautious rapprochement with the EU. Despite opinion polls showing support for a return to the Union, political balances across the Channel remain unstable, marked by the clear rise of Nigel Farage’s Eurosceptic camp. On the European side, no common strategy has yet emerged to facilitate a potential British return.
Ten years after the vote on June 23, 2016, this EuroQuestions event therefore aims to take stock from both the British and European perspectives: where do EU–UK relations currently stand, and where are they heading?
Questions to answer:
What is the current level of cooperation between the United Kingdom and the EU? Which policy areas remain outside the bilateral relationship? Where does the situation stand in Northern Ireland in the post-Brexit context?
Why is the United Kingdom adopting such a cautious approach in its strategy of rapprochement with the EU? Conversely, why does the EU not show greater collective political will to strengthen ties or consider a possible UK return?
What future developments can be envisaged in relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, particularly in the economic and defence areas? Which political or geopolitical factors could contribute to a deeper rapprochement between the two partners?
Présentation de l’intervenant :
Sébastien Maillard is Special Advisor at the Jacques Delors Institute. He has been working with the Centre for Greater Europe since September 2023, focusing in particular on enlargement, EU–UK relations, and the European Political Community. He was Director of the Jacques Delors Institute (2017–2023). He is an Associate Fellow at Chatham House.
Joël Reland is a researcher specializing in relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union at UK in a Changing Europe. He focuses on British political dynamics, post-Brexit relations, and the evolution of public opinion in the United Kingdom. His work notably addresses domestic British politics and its implications for EU–UK relations.
What are EuroQuestions ?
EuroQuestions are sessions held twice a month in the form of 30-minute online exchanges, bringing together a moderator (Ms. Christine Verger or Mr. William Malaterre) and a guest speaker to discuss European issues. These sessions take place on Wednesdays, from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM. The speaker is generally given a presentation time of approximately 15/20 minutes, followed by a 10/15-minute exchange with the moderator.
Speakers
- Joël Reland Research Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe