Brussels takes UK to the EU Court of Justice for 'failing to comply with free movement laws' post-Brexit
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Brussels is taking the UK to the EU Court of Justice for allegedly failing to comply with free movement laws post-Brexit in the first major blowup between the two sides since Labour came to power. The European Commission said it believed that there had been 'several shortcomings' in Britain's implementation of treaties at the end of 2020, with the allegations centering on Britain's failure to comply with EU laws on the free movement of people.
![[A queue for trucks on the German-Polish border]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/13/91228175-14197665-A_queue_for_trucks_on_the_German_Polish_border_France_is_followi-a-1_1734356782305.jpg)
The UK left the bloc in early 2020 but in the Brexit deal agreed to continue to allow European nationals and their families already residing in Britain to remain living there. In a statement, the Commission said: 'The European Commission decided to refer the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union... for failure to comply with EU law on free movement of EU citizens and their family members at the end of 2020.
![[Officers detain a man on the German/French border in Kehl, western Germany]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/13/91184687-14197665-Officers_detain_a_man_on_the_German_French_border_in_Kehl_wester-a-3_1734356836821.jpg)
'After carefully assessing the replies of the United Kingdom, the Commission maintains that several elements of the grievances remain unaddressed, including on the rights of workers and the rights of extended family members,' it added. The legal action comes as the Labour government elected this year has sought to 'reset' relations with Brussels after years of post-Brexit rancour under previous Conservative administrations.
![[A German police officer with guard dog at a border with France, as all German land borders are subject to random controls]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/16/13/89721097-14197665-A_German_police_officer_with_guard_dog_at_a_border_with_France_a-a-2_1734356788887.jpg)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels in October, and this month finance minister Rachel Reeves became the first British chancellor since Brexit to attend a meeting of eurozone counterparts.
