Reuters. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to move forward with a reset in relations at pace on Wednesday (October 2) as they eye further co-operation on areas such as security and economic challenges.
Starmer, whose Labour Party won an election in July, has said his government will not seek wholesale negotiation 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 thornier.
Starmer acknowledged there would be challenges in talks but emphasised that 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 in 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.
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, adding he wanted to do business in a respectful way instead of “charging to nearest camera to use a megaphone.”