Keir Starmer first UK PM to join EU meeting since Brexit

Sir Keir Starmer is traveling to Brussels for a significant meeting with European Union leaders, marking the first visit by a British prime minister to the EU since Brexit. The discussions will primarily focus on strengthening UK-EU cooperation in defence, security, crime, and trade, with the UK government aiming for a “reset” in its relationship with the EU. Starmer’s visit includes a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and is framed by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the resurgence of Donald Trump as U.S. president, which adds an element of urgency to EU defense autonomy.

Despite this shift toward closer ties, the UK government has been clear that it will not rejoin the EU’s single market, customs union, or sign up to freedom of movement. The goal is to establish a new framework for cooperation that could be finalized in a UK-EU summit possibly held in spring 2025. This would aim to improve trade dynamics, security arrangements, and collaboration on tackling serious organized crime. Potential discussions include greater ease in trading food and animal products, as well as collaboration on energy, particularly linking the UK’s emissions trading scheme with that of the EU. Another notable area of focus is the mutual recognition of professional qualifications and the facilitation of UK and EU musicians touring across borders.

One of the more contentious proposals is a youth mobility scheme, which could allow young people from the UK and the EU to travel more freely. This idea, although appealing to many in the EU, may face opposition in the UK, where it could be viewed as a step towards freedom of movement—a politically sensitive issue. Another topic of debate is the possibility of the UK joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, which would ease some customs barriers on goods manufactured with components from member states, but without full customs union membership. This could benefit industries with intricate supply chains, like the automotive sector, but might expose other sectors to more competition.

Starmer’s negotiations are being led by Michael Ellam, who heads the EU Relations Secretariat within the Cabinet Office, an office set up to manage the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU. However, political pressures abound, as opponents from both sides of the political spectrum critique the government’s approach. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Starmer’s government of attempting to bring the UK closer to the EU, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey advocates for the UK rejoining the customs union.

Starmer’s visit to Brussels is a delicate balancing act, navigating between fostering EU ties and maintaining political support at home, while also managing the broader geopolitical context of EU defense and international relations in the face of Trump’s trade threats. His upcoming visit to the U.S. is likely to further complicate this balancing act, as the UK seeks to maintain strong relationships both with the EU and the U.S., despite potential tensions between the two.