Eight years after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, young Europeans living in London are ready for change.
EU citizens living in Britain are paying close attention to the next actions of their new government, as newly elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks to revitalize and rebuild ties with Europe.
At a press conference prior to the presentation of his full legislative agenda, Starmer highlights need for post-Brexit deal with Brussels Better than that negotiated first by Theresa May and then by Boris Johnson.
“We think we can get a better deal than the failed deal brought home by Boris Johnson”Starmer said, “And we will work in this direction – understanding the work that needs to be done and the nature of the challenge.”
Brexit has presented many challenges over the past few years, but now with Labour in power the UK hopes to redefine its relationship with Europe.
The key question is whether the new approach will lead to better participation Better business relations and how it will affect the country’s large population of EU citizens.
“The first thing we felt was relief”
In London, the majority of Europeans are young adults, many of whom are hopeful about Starmer’s approach and eager to see the restoration of freedom of movement, one of the most significant casualties of Brexit.
Victoria Croda-Pinto, a UK resident, told Euronews she was “a little more optimistic” than the Conservatives in power.
Ricardo Hayoti Guitaoco was equally cautious: “There are a lot of pros and cons,” he said of Labor’s landslide election win, “but the first thing we felt was relief.”
Elisa Consiglio shared her thoughts on the state of Anglo-European relations. “I feel like we are divided in a certain sense,” she explained. “In the past, it was very different because we were all together. And now, in a way, I feel like we are separated.”
The outcome of the Labour Party’s plan to strengthen ties with Europe remains uncertain, with much dependent on external factors, including the upcoming US presidential election.
Professor Jonathan Portes, one of the leading experts on relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union at King’s College London, said it would take some time for the future prospects to become clear. “If there are positive agreements, this could generate a political and economic dynamic in which there will be pressure on both sides to move further and faster, which could lead to very real change”They said.
“At the moment, I don’t think we really know. And it will, frankly, also depend on broader geopolitical pressures and considerations.”
Only time will tell whether these efforts will lead to stronger ties and greater prosperity between the UK and Europe.
