While the European Union is struggling with the consequences of an unfavourable trade deal with the US, the UK is celebrating - at least symbolically. As Politico reported, the deal the EU struck with President Trump at his Scottish resort of Turnberry is seen as a concession, while the UK version enjoys much more favourable terms.

Brexit strategist Dominic Cummings made a derisive comment on the X network: 'Thanks to Brexit, we are out of this humiliating disaster and the others yet to come.'

While the EU will face 15% duties on its exports to the US, Britain has negotiated pouze 10% sazbu. In addition, Brussels has committed to massive purchases of US energy and defence technology, which some European politicians call "capitulation". French Prime Minister François Bayrou described the agreement as "a dark day for Europe".

Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen tried to defend the result by saying that the agreement "creates certainty in uncertain times". Her words, however, gave a faint impression even according to European commentators.

On the other hand, the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushed for a quick conclusion of the agreement, saying he wanted to protect German exports. "Let's find a solution quickly." he said in Brussels a month ago.

Europoslanec Brando Benifei from Italy, who heads the delegation for relations with the US, put it bluntly: "We seem to have been given worse terms than Britain. This is certainly not a good start."

Politico points out that the EU was late to the negotiations and Trump was initially reluctant to accept von der Leyen at all. In contrast, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acted flexibly and quickly with the US. It also helped that he reportedly maintained contact with Trump through WhatsApp and used the invitation to the British royal family as a tool of diplomacy.

Yet the Starmer government remains restrained in its rhetoric. While Brexit has allowed London to act on its own, the UK Treasury warns that in the long run, leaving the EU will damage the British economy by reducing productivity and trade. Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that GDP will be 4 % lower because of Brexit than if the country had remained in the EU.

While the EU is drawing criticism from right and left, British Conservatives and populists, including Nigela Farage, celebrating. His party Reform UK has already overtaken Starmer's Labor in the polls.

European right-wing parties took advantage of the situation to attack Brussels. Marine Le Pen called the agreement a "political, economic and moral fiasco". Alice Weidel of the AfD wrote that "the EU has been brutally deceived".

Although Starmer has currently earned a point, home and away remains a question mark, whether a Brexit victory will result in more political problems than benefits.

Politico/gnews.cz - GH