Starmer asks for a reset with Europe Union behind closed doors in Brussels! British PM debates

Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/eudebates Aside from talks with von der Leyen, Starmer will also meet European Council president Charles Michel — who represents the bloc’s 27 national leaders — and European parliament president Roberta Metsola.

Downing Street said the prime minister travelled to Belgium to "continue his drive to improve the UK’s relationship with the European Union to bolster the security, safety and prosperity of the British people."

Sir Keir's trip to Brussels comes amid growing pressure for him to agree to a youth mobility scheme to allow people aged 30 and under to travel more freely between Britain and the EU.

European leaders are reportedly keen to not make it easy for Sir Keir and will hold demands; including long-term fishing access to British waters and a new migrant deal requiring Britain to accept an agreed number of asylum seekers from the continent.

Sir Keir Starmer comes to Brussels today for talks with EU officials on his proposed “reset” of relations with the UK, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen under strict orders from capitals not to let the British prime minister pick and choose what to focus on.

The UK left the EU in 2020 after a slim majority of Brits voted to exit the bloc in a 2016 referendum. Four years of tortuous negotiations over the terms of the separation left much to be desired.

Starmer has pledged to improve the relationship, but has been vague about the key details of his proposals. At a meeting of member state ambassadors this week, some told von der Leyen’s representative not to allow Starmer to “cherry-pick” what he wants from Brussels, and not talk about the stuff the EU wants from him.

Some warned that the commission must be cautious about any new initiatives, pointing out that the UK had been clear on its “red lines” around issues they were unwilling to discuss, people briefed on the talks said.

Starmer has said he wants to “deliver ambitious and improved co-operation with EU leaders”, without specifying what that could entail.

“I am so determined to put the Brexit years behind us and establish a more pragmatic and mature relationship with the European Union,” he said yesterday, while ruling out a return to the bloc’s single market, customs union or rules allowing freedom of movement.

The EU wants to talk about fisheries and youth mobility, while the UK would rather focus on security and defence, migration and health issues, according to officials briefed on the preparations.

Officials on both sides of the English Channel mainly think that the symbolism of the meetings will be more important than any of the nitty-gritty discussed during them — if indeed there’s any at all.

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