Europe

I do not think that there will be a trade pact between UK and EU if the UK will not accept the requirements of the EU. The EU is stronger and has all cards compared to the UK. The anti EU country Switzerland had to accept the EU requirements for Schengen. Switzerland did not comply to some the requirements and the EU did not back up. The result is, e.g., that you cannot buy swiss stocks in European stock exchanges.

I translated it via DeepL

The focus here is on the enforcement of EU internal market law in Switzerland. Switzerland, in turn, is blocking or delaying agreed measures because it fears distortions of competition. Negotiations between the European Union and Switzerland on a corresponding framework agreement began back in 2014. In the meantime, the EU had increased the pressure on Switzerland by wanting to devalue the Swiss stock exchange.

As Switzerland did not react, Switzerland lost its stock market equivalence in June 2019. In concrete terms, this means that Switzerland has been valued as a stock market country like Malaysia, for example, for over five years. After attempts to conclude a framework agreement between the EU and Switzerland also failed in 2021, negotiations were resumed in spring 2024 - so far without success.

I hope so. Time will tell.

As the mod who removed the comment. This was your old comment ...

Not happening with the UK until fishing rights and 18-30 youth mobility visas are on the table.

~~Granted, I missed that news item. However, you'll probably notice too that there are simply different negotiation tactics at play. No? As alvvayson says -- why would EU members want to compromise their own security?~~

The UK trained Ukraine and provide NLAWs to stave off attack, while Germany gave helmets and Macron was playing mediator.

Germany's initial responses (first, "we'll provide humanitarian aid only" and next, "we'll provide 5000 helmets") weren't adequate, true. However, that was rectified quite quickly, iirc, foreign minister Baerbock took about a week; but even chancelor Olaf Scholz's "Zeitenwende" SotU-type address, which acknowledged the need for extensive military aid, was only a month after the war had started. Military aid has continuously been expanded since then, granted against a reluctant chancelor.

Similarly, France has also provided military aid, while, yes, initially trying to set up peace talks. But their role has also shifted. Though France still delivers much less material than e.g. Germany, I do appreciate Macron's verbal brinksmanship (seriously!).