Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – UK’s Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said that London and Brussels could agree to improve collaboration on security, law enforcement and removing trade obstacles by May when heads of both flanks are set to gather.
At the EU/UK Annual Forum Conference in Brussels, a day after PM Starmer had dinner there with European Union leaders, Thomas-Symonds said,
“The time for ideological-driven division is over. The time for ruthless pragmatism (in talks) is now.”
That meant
“making the case for closer working with our allies in the EU, to make people across the UK and the EU safer, more secure and more prosperous,”
He stated.
He further said the discussions with the EU would concentrate on security for closer cooperation on defence, on safety for more coordination on preventing illegal immigration, and on prosperity, to remove impediments to trade and encourage growth.
Thomas-Symonds also said the UK and the EU agreed “to a leader-level summit that will be held in May where we hope we can deliver a balanced yet ambitious outcome to benefit all our citizens.”
How significant is the Labour Party’s shift in EU relations?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has established the new ministerial position focused on EU relations in the hope of resetting and strengthening ties with the EU. The UK Minister for EU Relations has been Nick Thomas-Symonds. This forms part of a broader strategy for Starmer to improve cooperation with the EU after years of strained relations due to Brexit.
According to experts, the relationship between the UK and the EU is on course for a strong reset in 2025, especially after the recent electoral win of the Labour Party in the UK. As the new government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, this new Labour administration has indicated significant interest in re-setting relations with the EU in a very resolute manner that is quite in contrast to its predecessor, which was more Euro-sceptic.
The Labour Party aims to foster closer cooperation on various fronts, including trade, security, and defence. There will be a UK-EU summit early in 2025, where critical issues will be discussed, including potential agreements.
