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Brussels will take the UK to the European Court of Justice in two cases, casting a shadow over Sir Keir Starmer's proposed “reset” of relations with the EU.
The European Commission has raised issues relating to the UK's treatment of European Union its citizens and its failure to terminate bilateral investment deals with six member states.
The first complaint dates back to 2020, and legal proceedings were paused last year as London and Brussels sought to resolve differences over trade arrangements between Britain and Northern Ireland.
But the Commission said on Monday that it would take the case to court, because its right to do so under the terms of the UK's exit from the European Union expires on December 31.
Even then, the European Court of Justice can still rule on matters dating back to before 2021, when the UK's post-Brexit transition period ended. The UK will have to abide by its provisions.
The Commission alleges that the UK has placed unfair restrictions on the right of family members of EU citizens to live in the country, among other issues.
“Many elements of grievances remain unaddressed, including workers’ rights and the rights of extended family members,” the committee said in a statement.
In the second case, the Commission says the UK should have terminated its bilateral investment agreements with the six member states upon its exit from the EU.
Downing Street said: “We will not comment on legal proceedings. This relates to when we were a member state of the European Union and during the transition period.
Brussels' decision to move forward with these issues comes at a sensitive time as the UK and the EU seek to put an end to three years of rancor. The new Labor government wants to “reset” relations to improve trade and defense ties.
Starmer is due to meet his 27 EU counterparts at an informal dinner in February, the first meeting of its kind since the UK left the trading bloc.
UK advisor Rachel Reeves She and fellow finance ministers met this month to demand better EU access for the financial services sector, which was not included in the post-Brexit trade and cooperation agreement.
Reeves said dropping trade barriers set up when the UK left the single market would be in both sides' interests, ahead of detailed talks expected to start next year.
