Keir Starmer recently visited Brussels for his first official trip to meet with EU leaders. While he expressed his desire to move past the Brexit era and establish a closer relationship with the EU, the outcomes of his discussions were less concrete than anticipated.
Starmer announced plans for further talks this autumn followed by a summit early next year, but specifics on what this “reset” agreement would entail remained vague. The joint statement released after the meeting highlighted the need to define areas of strengthened cooperation that would be mutually beneficial.
Despite calls for the UK to consider a youth mobility scheme with the EU, Starmer’s discussions did not result in any significant progress on this front. The EU emphasized the importance of fully implementing existing agreements before pursuing new ones, indicating limited room for major new deals until current plans are in place.
During a press conference overshadowed by questions about a controversy involving Labour peer Waheed Alli, Starmer emphasized the need for a stable relationship with Europe based on pragmatic leadership. However, details on specific issues discussed during the meeting were scarce, with the focus being on setting the framework for future summits.
Starmer’s decision not to address a potential youth mobility scheme, despite support for it across Europe, reflects a cautious approach to negotiations with the EU. While the Liberal Democrats have called for prioritizing such a scheme, the government seems hesitant to commit to it at this stage.
Looking ahead, Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen have agreed to meet again this autumn, with plans for regular EU-UK summits starting in early 2025. The goal is to establish a stable, positive, and forward-looking relationship that fosters long-term cooperation in areas such as the economy, energy, security, and resilience.
Overall, Starmer’s visit to Brussels highlighted the complexities and challenges of navigating post-Brexit relations with the EU. While the desire for closer cooperation is evident, the path to achieving this goal remains uncertain as both sides work to define the terms of their future partnership.