EU and UK mark a decade since Brexit as ties soften

Ten years after the United Kingdom left the European Union, relations have shifted from acrimony to a more pragmatic coexistence. EU nationals now account for just 5 % of UK visa applicants, and enrolments of EU students in British universities have fallen 58 % compared with the pre‑Brexit year. The slowdown in migration and study flows has had a measurable impact on the British economy and its cultural cachet, with many young Europeans now preferring cities such as Berlin or Barcelona over London.

Meanwhile, the EU has largely moved on, focusing on new enlargement prospects and other crises. British public opinion remains divided, with roughly one‑third still believing the country was right to leave, while many Britons feel more European in identity. Officials from both sides continue to meet at G7 and NATO summits, signalling a pragmatic partnership despite lingering political debate.