EU wants UK to join pan-Europe customs scheme

European Commissioner for Trade, Maros Sefcovic, has announced that the European Union (EU) could evaluate the possibility of the United Kingdom joining a European trade agreement, following a statement by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding his intention to renew relations with the bloc, the EFE news agency reported on Thursday, as cited by Agerpres.

Sefcovic, responsible for post-Brexit negotiations, told the BBC on Wednesday evening that integrating the United Kingdom into the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM) is “an option we could consider.”

PEM facilitates duty-free trade in goods across Europe, as well as in certain North African countries.

In statements to the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sefcovic mentioned that this proposal is not yet “clearly defined” and that “the decision is up to the United Kingdom.”

The British government has begun consulting with companies about the benefits of the PEM scheme and how it could help reduce bureaucracy and optimize trade, according to the BBC.

The European Trade Commissioner stated that relations between the United Kingdom and the EU are clearly going through a more favorable period with the Labour Party coming to power last July.

The British Prime Minister is scheduled to participate next month in an EU summit focused on defense and security.