The United Kingdom wants to agree with the European Union a deep and
special partnership that takes in both economic and security
cooperation. To achieve this, we believe it is necessary to agree the
terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from
the EU.
If, however, we leave the European Union without an agreement the
default position is that we would have to trade on World Trade
Organisation terms. In security terms a failure to reach agreement would
mean our cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism would be
weakened. In this kind of scenario, both the United Kingdom and the
European Union would of course cope with the change, but it is not the
outcome that either side should seek. We must therefore work hard to
avoid that outcome.
It is for these reasons that we want to be able to agree a deep and
special partnership, taking in both economic and security cooperation,
but it is also because we want to play our part in making sure that
Europe remains strong and prosperous and able to lead in the world,
projecting its values and defending itself from security threats. And
we want the United Kingdom to play its full part in realising that
vision for our continent.