Despite the war in Iran and its economic consequences preoccupying London, Brussels and all of the European capitals,

a lot of work is going on behind the scenes to strike a closer relationship between the UK and the European Union.

Nearly a decade after Britain voted to leave the bloc, Kirstama has

tasked his ministers with negotiating a post-Brexit reset, the aim to bring areas of the

British economy into closer alignment with the EU, the hope to bring down prices and cut red tape.

But given Europeans' preoccupations and a still grumpy mood with

post-Brexit blighty, 10 years on, how's it really going? I'm Anne McHelvoy and my guest this

week on EU Confidential sits at the heart of Stama's government here in the Cabinet office

in Whitehall.

Nick Thomas Simmons is one of the Prime Minister's closest allies around the Cabinet

table and he's been notching up the hours on the Eurostar back and forth to Brussels

in an attempt to strike a deal by the summer.

He's got his work cut out.

Agreeing a youth mobility scheme and alignment in key

sectors of the economy has been a far from smooth process. Some doubt on both sides of the

channel, it's going anywhere at all. Nick Thomas Simmons, welcome to this EU confidential interview.

Delighted to join you, Anne. Let's turn to Britain's reconnection with the EU, which is the meat and drink of a lot of your job in the last months.

Since you were in person, I know you're frequently in Brussels for talks with your EU counterpart, Marashevkovich.

How much progress are you making?

And when is the government planning to name the sectors where it wants to align in the single market?

So first of all, I think we've made very significant progress. The relationship between the UK and

the EU is in a very different place from where it has been, frankly, under previous governments.

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