EU and UK reach tentative agreement ahead of summit

The European Union and the United Kingdom have reached a tentative agreement on defense and security, fisheries and youth mobility ahead of the upcoming EU-UK summit on Monday. The deal could pave the way for British companies to participate in major EU defense contracts, according to EU officials.

Representatives of the 27 member states in Brussels have received the draft of a "Common Understanding" between the EU and the UK, which is now undergoing formal approval by all member governments, the officials said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will meet later on Monday in London.

"There is an agreement ... on the different texts and parallel aspects of the EU-UK Summit," one EU diplomat said.

"From my understanding, all member states seem to be happy with what's put on the table as the summit is about to start. There is now an ongoing written procedure to have the formal agreement of all member states but it shouldn't cause any problem," the diplomat said.