UK-EU talks raise hopes of easing post-Brexit rules for Britons in France

Some post-Brexit complications for Britons in France – and others with UK-French links – could be eased thanks to developments between the UK and EU.

These include talk of a possible return of the UK to a form of customs union with the EU, negotiations linked to Labour’s so-called ‘reset’ of relations with Brussels, and a five-yearly review of the Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the treaty that governs the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU.

In December, the UK’s centrist Liberal Democrats claimed a “historic victory” after MPs narrowly voted in favour of their bill calling for the UK to negotiate a bespoke customs union with the EU. Unexpectedly, 13 Labour MPs rebelled against instructions to abstain.

The vote was seen as indicative of a desire in Parliament to move closer to the EU again, but it is not binding on the government.

A bespoke customs union would not amount to rejoining the EU customs union – something Labour has ruled out – but it would recreate some of the same rules. Turkey, for example, has a customs union agreement with the EU.

Such an arrangement would include the removal of customs tariffs, though not necessarily import VAT. At present, tariff exemptions are subject to complex rules requiring proof that goods were made predominantly in the UK or EU. Ending these tariffs should ease red tape for businesses and make importing British goods simpler.

It could also make bringing a car from the UK to France less costly, and ease complications around moving other goods, particularly when bringing items to second homes rather than benefiting from exemptions linked to a move of main residence.

It remains unclear whether this would entirely remove the need for paperwork, such as detailed inventories of belongings when moving home.

It should, however, ease some problems linked to receiving parcels from the UK, as customs duties would no longer be payable regardless of the parcel’s value.

Meanwhile, the Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement is due to come up for review in May, a process some commentators have portrayed as an opportunity to renegotiate its rules. Both the UK and EU, however, stress that this will be a ‘review’ only.

The UK’s minister for Europe has said the importance of this process has diminished due to the continuing ‘reset’ talks, which are expected to include annual EU-UK summits. The second of these is anticipated in the first half of 2026.

It is also worth noting that the TCA’s ‘social security protocol’ – which includes key provisions for readers such as S1 healthcare cover, pension aggregation and EHICs – was agreed for 15 years and therefore does not need to be renewed at this stage.

As for the wider ‘reset’, a significant step forward was announced recently with confirmation that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus+ student exchange programme from 2027. This will make it easier for young people to complete part of their studies abroad.

Several other elements are under discussion. These include the possible introduction of ‘youth experience’ visas allowing young people to live and work for extended periods in the UK or EU, and the harmonisation of plant and animal health rules through the creation of a “common sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) area”.

Talks on youth visas are reported to have begun in September, while discussions on SPS alignment started in November. The UK government hopes an SPS agreement could be in place by 2027.

If agreed, this would ease restrictions on bringing or sending food products across the border, cutting red tape for many businesses. It would also open the way for the UK to issue pet passports recognised by the EU.