Sir Keir Starmer right now vowed to ‘make Brexit work’ and put the UK-EU relationship on a ‘secure, constructive footing’ as he arrived in Brussels for talks with high Eurocrats.
After greeting European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen, the PM mentioned there was a ‘obligation’ for the UK and EU to work collectively in ‘harmful occasions’.
In addition to talks with Ms Von der Leyen, Sir Keir was additionally attributable to maintain conferences with European Council chief Charles Michel and the European Parliament’s Roberta Metsola.
The PM has vowed to ‘reset’ Britain’s relationship with the EU and is looking for nearer ties with Brussels, though he has pledged to not rejoin the bloc’s single market or customs union.
However Sir Keir is beneath strain to make concessions on free motion guidelines, migration, and fishing rights.
EU leaders need the PM to comply with a youth mobility scheme to provide younger Europeans higher freedom to come back to the UK to check and work – and vice versa for younger Britons.
Sir Keir has up to now resisted their calls for and is cautious of any deal which may threat a return of free motion guidelines for EU residents.
Ms von der Leyen was additionally anticipated to make use of right now’s talks to ask the PM to start negotiations on a migrant returns deal, which might require the UK to simply accept a quota of asylum seekers from the bloc.
The EU has additionally lined up a requirement for long-term entry to British waters for European fishing vessels, with the present EU-UK fisheries deal attributable to expire on the finish of June 2026.
Sir Keir Starmer vowed to ‘make Brexit work’ as he arrived in Brussels for talks with European Fee boss Ursula von der Leyen
After greeting Ms von der Leyen , the PM mentioned there was a ‘obligation’ for the UK and EU to work collectively in ‘harmful occasions’
On his arrival within the Belgian capital on his first go to as premier, Sir Keir mentioned: ‘I firmly imagine that the British public desires to return to pragmatic, wise management on the subject of coping with our closest neighbours.
‘To make Brexit work and to ship of their pursuits to search out methods to spice up financial development, strengthen our safety and sort out shared challenges like irregular migration and local weather change.’
Sir Keir additionally highlighted the UK and EU’s continued cooperation over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Center East disaster.
‘In harmful occasions we now have an obligation to work collectively to protect stability and safety,’ he added.
‘We’re decided to place this relationship again on a secure, constructive footing that I believe all of us need to see.’
Ms Von der Leyen, who additionally met with Sir Keir at a United Nations summit in New York final week, mentioned ‘shut alignment’ on international points was a ‘good basis’ for talks on the UK-EU relationship.
‘In these very unsure occasions, like-minded companions like us should cooperate extra intently,’ she mentioned.
‘We have now a set of stable agreements in place, we should always discover the scope for extra cooperation whereas we concentrate on the complete and trustworthy implementation of the Withdrawal Settlement, the Windsor Framework and the TCA (Commerce and Cooperation Settlement).
‘We have now quite a bit to debate right now and I am very a lot trying ahead to working with you and to proceed to strengthen our relationships.’
