UK seeks closer EU ties in volatile times - but at what cost?

UK seeks closer EU ties in volatile times - but at what cost?6 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleKatya AdlerEurope editor, BrusselsBBCThe UK is adopting a "ruthlessly pragmatic" approach to becoming closer to its European neighbours, the UK's EU minister, Nick Thomas-Symmonds, tells the BBCWe live in hugely volatile times. In Ukraine, Europe is entering the fifth year of the worst conflict this continent has seen since World War Two, petrol prices are rising, and the global economy is under strain because of knock-on effects of the Iran war. Relations with the UK's former best friend, the United States are worsening.It's against this backdrop that the UK's minister for EU relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, told the BBC that the UK is adopting an "ambitious" and "ruthlessly pragmatic" approach to becoming closer to its European neighbours - in sectors of UK national interest.Speaking to me at the residence of the UK ambassador to the EU in Brussels, he told me he believes the UK public is more open to closer EU ties nowadays because of huge geopolitical instability: "I do find a support for closer UK–EU relations… I think there is a particular imperative at the moment… we find ourselves in a dangerous situation in the world."The UK's increased cooperation with other European powers is already particularly evident when it comes to security and defence - take the common approach on Ukraine, for example, with the UK in a leadership role. Or the intention to work together on the joint procurement of armaments now European leaders have promised the US they'll do more for their own continental defence.But Thomas-Symonds has his eye on economic ties. Nearly ten years after the Brexit vote, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has promised to reduce post-Brexit red tape and costs for UK companies doing business with the UK's biggest export market, the EU. By this summer, and the second post-Brexit...