UK and EU: Rejoining paths 10 years after the Brexit referendum

2026 marks exactly ten years since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016. A decade on, the core architecture of the relationship remains settled but fragile and limited. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), applied since 1 May 2021, governs trade in goods with relative stability and tariff-free/quota-free access for qualifying products. Yet services -especially financial services- have experienced lasting divergence and reduced market access. Regulatory drift persists on both sides of the Channel, while pragmatic improvements in foreign policy and security cooperation have emerged, particularly on support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

Since the landmark EU-UK summit in May 2025, relations have advanced through a new Strategic Partnership, a Security and Defence Partnership, and a Common Understanding. These frameworks have driven active negotiations on key areas including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules, linking emissions trading systems, youth mobility schemes, and energy market integration. High-level engagements -such as those at the Munich Security Conference and the February 2026 TCA Partnership Council- underscore a shared intent to accelerate progress. However, fundamental red lines endure on both sides, with no return to the Single Market or Customs Union. Advancements are kept pragmatic and incremental.

The UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee reported in March 2026 that the Government’s UK-EU reset ‘lacks direction, definition and drive’ and questioned whether the Government’s red lines on rejoining the Single Market and Customs Union are barriers to progressing negotiations. Lived experience since Brexit has led many in the electorate to change their mind and 55% would now opt to rejoin the EU (YouGov, 2026), while 83% of those aged between 16 and 24 are in favour of re-joining (Savanta, 2026).

Against this background, we invite you to a panel discussion to explore the UK-EU relationship, and the steps needed for a more integrated Europe to defend its interests, security and values in an uncertain world.

Panellists: Yannis Karamitsios

[Author ‘Time for a European Federation, Peter Lang, 2019’ Activist of the European federalist movement]

David Martin

[MEP representing Scotland 1984-2019; President of the European Movement in Scotland]

Patrick Harvie

[MSP for Glasgow Region 2003-2026 and current election candidate for the Scottish Greens]

Moderator:

Helen Hardman

[Lecturer in Transformation & European Integration, University of Glasgow]

About the panel:

Yannis Karamitsios is author of the book ‘Time for a European Federation’ (Peter Lang, 2021), which presents the case for transforming the EU into a sovereign federal state. In it, he argues that only a federal Europe can tackle the challenges of rising autocratic empires, globalisation, climate change, and the fourth industrial revolution. He proposes detailed policies across sectors like economy, defence, immigration, and sustainability to ensure the continent's geopolitical relevance. Yannis is a lawyer originally from Thessaloniki, Greece. Since 2006 he lives in Brussels and works as a legal officer in the European Commission although is not representing the views of the Commission. He is a convinced Federalist and dedicates much of his public action to the promotion of European and international federalism.

Patrick Harvie

· MSP for Glasgow Region 2003-2026 and current election candidate for the Scottish Greens

· Former Co-Leader of the Scottish Green Party

· Currently Green spokesperson on Net Zero, Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

A prominent campaigner for Scottish Independence, Patrick Harvie has led campaigns on a range of issues from housing, human rights and LGBTQ+ equality, to progressive tax reform.

In 2021 Patrick and his fellow Co-Leader Lorna Slater became the first Green politicians to enter Government in any of the UK nations. Patrick served as Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights until April 2024, expanding Scotland’s work on zero-emission heat, delivering record funding for walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure, and imposing an emergency rent freeze during the cost of living crisis. Away from work Patrick is a keen cyclist, baker, sci-fi fan and lover of real ale.

David Martin

· MEP representing Scotland 1984-2019

· President of the European Movement in Scotland (since 2024)

· Senior Advisor at Shearwater Global on the European Parliament

David was the UK’s longest serving Member of the European Parliament, representing Scotland from 1984 to 2019. He was the youngest ever leader of the Labour group of MEPs. David is a former Scottish European Parliamentarian of the Year and a former European Parliament Trade MEP of the Year. During his time as an MEP, he focused on Trade and Development, Human Rights, Constitutional Affairs and Democracy. He authored over one hundred Reports for the Parliament. He served for 15 years as Vice-President of the Parliament and was a leading reformer of its working methods. David was a Member of the First Minister of Scotland’s Standing Council on Europe. He was a visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow (2019-2022) and Senior Fellow at RSIS in Singapore, one of Asia’s leading centres of International Studies. David Martin was educated at Heriot Watt University and the University of Leicester. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of the Punjab, in recognition of his work to strengthen relations between the EU and Pakistan.

Helen Hardman

Helen is lecturer in Transformation and European Integration in the School of Social & Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow. She holds a doctorate in politics (DPhil, Oxon) and has published research on democratisation, human rights and electoral rights in Europe

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