Brussels has introduced its toughest financial demands yet for a “post-Brexit reset,” insisting that the UK pay billions to regain deeper access to the EU electricity market and benefit from closer economic ties. As Britain struggles with some of Europe’s highest electricity prices since the Ukraine war, the EU’s new terms would require the UK to cover substantial costs for single market access and participation in joint European defense and security funds. The European bloc’s tough line, especially backed by countries like Belgium and Germany, signals that the UK can’t “cherry pick” benefits without significant contributions and intensifies pressure on Prime Minister Starmer’s government.