On December 16, 2024, the European Commission announced it is taking legal action against the United Kingdom for potential violations of EU citizens' free movement rights following Brexit.

The case has been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) due to non-compliance with EU laws regarding the free movement of EU citizens and their families, which was supposed to be upheld at the end of 2020.

The Commission's complaint originates from May 2020, alleging that the UK government imposed restrictions on the free movement rights of EU citizens and their families.

Despite multiple discussions with British authorities since 2020, many of the Commission's concerns remain unaddressed, particularly those related to workers' rights and the rights of extended family members.

This legal action emerges during a period of thawing relations between London and Brussels, following Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer's pledge to reset UK-EU relations after a challenging post-Brexit dialogue.

The referral to the CJEU represents a setback for Starmer, who is actively seeking to improve relations with the EU.

The EU has indicated that it will only pursue new agreements once the UK demonstrates full compliance with existing obligations, complicating the current diplomatic landscape.

The UK officially left the EU on January 31, 2020, under an agreement that allowed EU citizens and their families residing in the UK before the end of 2020 to retain their rights.

The Commission identified several shortcomings in the UK's implementation of European law, which affects the rights of approximately 3.5 million EU nationals living in the UK.

While Labour leader Keir Starmer is working to improve UK-EU relations, detailed agreement talks have yet to commence, although some ministers are engaging positively with their EU counterparts.

The Commission had previously sent a formal notification to the UK in May 2020, followed by a reasoned opinion in October 2020, which led to the current legal proceedings.

In addition to the free movement issue, the EU is pressing for a fisheries agreement, a key negotiation point, with a deadline for renewal by June 2026.