The british finance minister, Rachel Reevesstated this Wednesday that he will promote a closer integration with the European Union (EU) with the aim of reducing the trade barriers derived from Brexit.
Likewise, he stressed the need to strengthen the defense spending cooperation between the United Kingdom and European countries, in an increasingly complex geopolitical context.
During an intervention in the London School of Economics (LSE)Reeves maintained that the future of the United Kingdom is deeply linked to the European continent, both economically and in terms of security.
His statements came in a politically delicate week for the government, marked by pressure on the prime minister. Keir Starmerwho faces political difficulties related to the repercussions of the scandal of Jeffrey Epstein.
Reeves was clear in highlighting the strategic importance of the community bloc for the British economy. “The biggest prize is clearly in the hands of the EU.
The truth is that the economic gravity It’s reality. Almost half of our trade “It is carried out with the European Union,” she stated before academics and students. With this expression, the minister alluded to the structural weight of the European market in British commercial exchange, despite the formal departure from the bloc in 2020.
Although he reiterated the United Kingdom’s willingness to advance trade agreements with other powers, such as India, USA y CoreaReeves acknowledged that none of these pacts would have an impact comparable to what could be achieved through a more fluid relationship with Brussels.
“I am totally willing to make deals with India, the United States and Korea. But none of them will be as big as what we can achieve to grow the trade relations with Europe”, he noted.
The minister admitted that a deeper integration would imply greater regulatory alignment with the EU, especially regarding rules and standards. However, it made it clear that it is willing to assume that political and technical cost if it contributes to boosting the British economy. “I’m prepared for that,” she said.
Since officially leaving the bloc in 2020, the United Kingdom has attempted to reduce certain trade obstacles that emerged after Brexit. However, successive governments have acted cautiously so as not to alienate the sectors that supported the break in the referendum of 2016.
date: 2026-02-12 17:40:00