Keir Starmer Hosts EU Summit With Ursula Von Der Leyen, Antonio Costa, Kaja Kallas

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer launched a bid to rebuild ties with the European Union, pledging to lay out "a platform on which we can build" tighter links with the EU and to put "Britain at the heart of Europe".

“'Britain at the heart of Europe': How Starmer's plans are going down in the EU "A UK prime minister, using the idea of getting closer to the European Union as a political life vest to get the British public on his side”

BBC

The BBC said Starmer’s comments were met with skepticism from Jill Rutter, who described them as "a damp squib" for lacking "one single new proposal".

BBC

In London, La Tribune reported that Starmer would host a bilateral summit with Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, and Kaja Kallas, framing it as a first since the referendum confirming the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union in 2020.

La Tribune also quoted a Downing Street press release saying Starmer promised to conclude within "this week" a "new agreement that will serve the national interest of the country."

Starmer’s EU push is paired with repeated constraints, with the BBC reporting that Labour promised not to cross "red lines" on free movement of workers, rejoining the single market, and a customs union.

La Tribune said the prime minister signaled he was ready to accept Brussels’ demand on freedom of movement through a reciprocal mobility program for young people to study and work in London and in the EU.

BFM

In Brussels, a European diplomat told lecourrier.vn that the summit was "very promising" and that "it’s fairly positive; we will get there," while International Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said on the BBC, "I cannot confirm that it is concluded, but it is very promising; there have been advances."

El País reported that Starmer’s speech clashed with refusal to rejoin the customs union and quoted Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey saying, "it must address the cost of living crisis we suffer" and "there is no way to achieve that if they do not discard all the red lines about Europe" including returning to the customs union.

Beyond trade and mobility, the summit is expected to produce a defense and security partnership, with lecourrier.vn saying the leaders were expected to announce a defense and security partnership and a document outlining a common vision on major global issues.

“The promise by the British prime minister that the United Kingdom will return to the 'heart of Europe' clashes with the refusal to rejoin the customs union”

El País

La Tribune described the summit as focused on renewing closer ties with Brussels while also citing the Downing Street line that security and safety should not be compromised by a lack of cooperation among neighboring countries facing the same global challenges.

Ouest-France said Starmer’s government is putting the finishing touches on a bill to implement closer ties with the European Union and to frame an "alignment mechanism" and the "role of Parliament," while also noting that the bill is expected to provoke strong opposition from the Conservative Party and Reform UK led by Nigel Farage.

In the lead-up, El País quoted Starmer limiting himself to explaining, "We will have [this summer] a new bilateral summit, which will help us get closer in trade, economy, defense and security," as the dispute over red lines continues.