Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is travelling to Brussels today (2 October), as he looks to “reset” the relationship between the UK and EU and “put the Brexit years behind us”.
According to a Downing Street statement, Starmer said:
“The UK is undeniably stronger when it works in lockstep with its closest international partners. This has never been more important – with war, conflict and insecurity all knocking on Europe’s door.
"We will only be able to tackle these challenges by putting our collective weight behind them, which is why I am so determined to put the Brexit years behind us and establish a more pragmatic and mature relationship with the EU.”
He will meet with top EU officials, including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Council president Charles Michel and president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.
No free movement
He was clear, however, that he was not seeking a return to the single market or customs union, but instead looking for a “pragmatic and mature relationship” with the EU.
European officials are said to be pushing for the PM to accept a youth mobility scheme, which would provide young people with easier access to both the UK and EU, as one of the conditions for some of Starmer’s requests, such as a deal on veterinary imports.
However, sources told Politico that home secretary Yvette Cooper and others are said to be opposed to this, as it clashes with a desire to reduce immigration.
EU importance
Starmer has often emphasised the importance of a stronger relationship with Europe during his time in opposition. He gave the role of EU minister to Nick Thomas-Symonds, a former shadow trade minister and one of his top allies, and often criticised the previous Conservative governments for its approach to Europe.
With many issues still remaining – including continued border friction, regulatory divergence and the upcoming review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) – Starmer is looking to build up a friendly relationship with European officials as a way to help solve these problems.
Despite post-Brexit efforts to diversify the UK’s trade away from Europe, the EU remains the country’s single largest trading partner.
Exports suffering
In 2023, UK exports of goods and services to the EU were £356bn, while the UK imported £466bn from the EU, amounting to over half (52%) of total imports.
One report from the Centre for Economic Performance, published in July this year, found that as many as 20,000 firms had stopped exporting their goods to Europe since Brexit, with the pipeline of “future exporting stars” diminishing significantly according to the research.
The TCA has also caused issues in the past, with a ‘tariff cliff edge’ on electric vehicles only averted by a last-minute agreement at the end of 2023.
[Picture: Downing Street portrait licensed under Creative Commons 2.0]