Overview

• The European Commission has referred the UK to the European Court of Justice, citing shortcomings in protecting the rights of EU citizens under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
• The legal action stems from alleged failures to address issues such as workers' rights and the rights of extended family members of EU citizens residing in the UK.
• Cases have emerged of EU nationals being denied entry or subjected to deportation orders despite their legal status, raising concerns about the UK's implementation of the agreement.
• The dispute complicates Prime Minister Keir Starmer's efforts to reset UK-EU relations, with the EU linking future agreements to full compliance with existing commitments.
• Key sticking points in the broader UK-EU relationship include fisheries agreements, youth mobility schemes, and the UK's refusal to rejoin the single market or customs union.