The European Union’s new trade chief, Maros Sefcovic, has suggested that the UK joining a “pan-European [customs] area” could be considered as part of efforts to “reset” UK-EU relations.
Speaking to the BBC, he referred to the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention (PEM), a framework allowing tariff-free trade through shared rules for sourcing parts, materials, and ingredients across Europe and North Africa.
The UK government did not include PEM in its post-Brexit deal, but some businesses believe adopting it could help reintegrate the UK into disrupted supply chains.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sefcovic noted that the idea had not yet been “precisely formulated” by the UK and emphasized, “the ball is in the UK’s court.”
The BBC reports that the UK government has started consulting businesses on the potential benefits of PEM to reduce trade barriers, though no final decision has been made.
Sefcovic also raised the possibility of revisiting a full-scale veterinary agreement to ease trade frictions on agricultural and food products, emphasizing the need for “dynamic alignment”—ensuring the UK and EU maintain synchronized rules.
Additionally, Sefcovic highlighted the importance of renewing the EU-UK fisheries deal, which is set to expire next year, describing a solution as “very important for the EU.”
Addressing youth exchanges, he expressed disappointment over what he described as misinterpretations of the European Commission’s proposals. “It’s not freedom of movement; it’s a bridge-building proposal,” he clarified.
“We do not want to look like the demanders here, because we believe this is good for the UK,” he said
The trade commissioner said UK-EU relations were “definitely” in a better place and his British counterpart Nick Thomas-Symonds was “on speed dial”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will attend a defence and security focused EU summit next month.
As well as relations with the UK, Mr Sefcovic acknowledged that the EU needed to be “extremely cautious and responsible” in addressing trade with the Trump administration in Washington but said he was willing to negotiate.
He added that while the EU did have a surplus in goods such as cars, the US had a surplus in services