UK and EU to finalise plans for defence pact

Sir Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen are expected to finalize a UK/EU defence pact and fishing rights agreement ahead of their summit on May 19, with the aim of laying the groundwork for broader economic discussions. The pact will strengthen trust between the UK and EU, potentially paving the way for youth mobility schemes and trade agreements. However, challenges remain over how disputes will be resolved and dynamic alignment of EU rules in the UK, though optimism prevails on key issues like fishing rights and youth mobility.