The European Commission has launched legal action against the UK for breaching the terms of its Brexit deal, marking the first significant conflict between the two sides since Keir Starmer’s government took office. The case focuses on the UK’s failure to fully comply with EU law regarding the free movement of people, a key provision in the Brexit agreement.
Under the deal, the UK committed to allowing EU nationals and their families who were already living in Britain to remain there, while granting British citizens similar rights to live, study, and work in the EU. However, the Commission has accused the UK of “shortcomings” in implementing these rights, particularly concerning workers’ rights and the status of extended family members.
The legal action will take the UK to the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ). Despite no longer being bound by EU law after Brexit, certain aspects of the UK’s withdrawal agreement still fall under the ECJ’s jurisdiction, which has sparked frustration among Britain’s pro-Brexit politicians.
In a statement, the European Commission criticized the UK’s handling of the situation, saying, “After carefully assessing the replies of the United Kingdom, the Commission maintains that several elements of the grievances remain unaddressed, including on the rights of workers and the rights of extended family members.” The violations were identified as occurring at the end of 2020, following the UK’s formal exit from the EU.
A UK government spokesperson responded, clarifying that the issues stemmed from the transition period in 2020, before the final trade deal was signed. “We remain focused on working to reset our relationship with the EU and to make Brexit work for the British people,” the spokesperson said.
The Conservative Party quickly seized on the dispute, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel warning that the EU’s continued legal actions against the UK should serve as a cautionary message. “I hope the government will strongly defend this claim,” she added, also urging caution as Starmer pushes for greater alignment with the EU on mobility rights for EU citizens.
