London (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Downing Street announced that UK PM Keir Starmer will welcome EU chiefs to the UK in May for the first of regular summits planned to reset Britain’s ties with the EU.
A spokesman for the UK premier told reporters PM will host EU Council president Antonio Costa and Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on May 19.
He added it would be the first of “annual summits” as the Labour leader seeks closer relations with European neighbours following the rancour of Britain’s 2020 departure from the bloc under the previous Conservative government.
The first UK-EU summit will provide an opportunity to make further progress on areas which will deliver tangible benefits for the people of the UK and the EU and further strengthen the unique relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union,
the spokesman stated.
How is Starmer prioritising closer cooperation with the EU?
As per PM Keir Starmer, he was going to reset the UK-EU relationship by further commitment towards close cooperation without rejoining the EU block. According to him,
I want a reset of the relationship between the UK and the EU. That doesn’t involve going back into the European Union.
In a new, post-Brexit development, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has settled on a new position: minister for EU relations, committed to resetting and strengthening relations with the European Union.
These new EU relations have come in the form of the appointment of Nick Thomas-Symonds as the UK Minister for EU Relations. According to sources, this move forms part of his overall strategy of reestablishing cooperation with the European Union after years of strained relationship due to Brexit.
