UK PM Starmer visits Brussels for first talks on EU reset

London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would work in good faith towards resetting relations with Brussels after talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at which they agreed to work at pace to deepen cooperation.

Starmer, whose Labour Party won an election in July, has said his government will not seek wholesale renegotiation of the Brexit deal that took Britain out of the European Union in 2020.

But he is looking to tweak the relationship in a range of areas. The European Union shares his desire for a joint security pact, but talks on barriers to the movement of goods and people could prove tougher.

Starmer acknowledged there would be challenges in talks, but said the meetings were about turning the page on the relationship rather than getting into the thornier topics that would have to be discussed.

“There will be issues which are difficult to resolve and on areas on which we will stand firm… but we will find constructive ways to work together,” Starmer said at a press conference.

Starmer and von der Leyen agreed to hold regular EU-UK leader summits, with the first set to take place in early 2025.

They also agreed in a joint statement to meet again in the autumn before the first summit, in order to “take forward this agenda of strengthened cooperation at pace”.

Eyeing an EU reset, Starmer has already visited Berlin, Paris, Rome and Dublin since the election.

As well as von der Leyen, Starmer met with European Council President Charles Michel and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola on the first visit to Brussels by a British PM since 2019.

Starmer’s election followed years of turmoil under Conservative governments since 2010, with two prime ministers forced to quit over their handling of Brexit and ministers often pursuing a confrontational approach with Brussels.

“Tone does matter. Resetting does matter, and that has been a very important part of the message,” he said.

Von der Leyen said Britain and the EU’s “alignment on global affairs” provided a good foundation for bilateral relations, emphasising broad agreement between the two on European security concerns and climate change.

“We should explore the scope for more co-operation, while we focus on the full and faithful implementation of the withdrawal agreement,” she said after greeting Starmer.

Starmer has ruled out any return to the EU’s single market, its customs union or freedom of movement arrangements.

But he has pledged to seek a new veterinary agreement aimed at reducing border checks and also wants the mutual recognition of certain professional qualifications, and easier access to the EU for artists on tour.

While Starmer’s warmer tone has been welcomed by EU leaders, both sides have recognised that changes in the substance of the relationship will be subject to tough negotiation, even if the main tenets of the Brexit settlement are not touched.

Starmer has said there are no plans for a youth mobility scheme, rejecting an EU proposal to allow 18 to 30-year-old EU citizens to live in Britain and young Britons to stay in the EU for up to four years.

Youth mobility is a key EU demand and London’s acceptance, perhaps in a watered-down form, may be a condition for moving forward on Britain’s wish list.

Starmer declined to answer questions on details of differences in stance on areas like youth mobility or fishing, saying a much more constructive approach than his predecessors “doesn’t mean that challenges aren’t there”.

“It doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy,” he said.