As part of his quest for a fresh start with the EU, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission. This was Starmer’s first opportunity to speak with Brussels on matters such as trade, security, and youth mobility.
Following its victory in the July election, Starmer’s Labour Party has said that its government will not pursue a comprehensive renegotiation of the Brexit agreement, which will see Britain exit the EU in 2020. But he wants to make a number of changes to the relationship.
After arriving in Brussels on Wednesday, Starmer declared, “I firmly believe that the British public wants a return to pragmatic, sensible leadership when it comes to dealing with our closest neighbors.”
“I think we all want to see this relationship return to a solid, positive footing, and we are determined to make that happen.” Since the election, Starmer has already traveled to Berlin, Paris, Rome, and Dublin in order to provide the foundation for a reset.
The European Union shares his desire for a joint security pact, but talks on barriers to the movement of goods and people could prove thornier
“As we concentrate on the complete and faithful execution of the withdrawal agreement, we ought to investigate the possibilities for further collaboration,” von der Leyen stated. The discussion with von der Leyen was referred to by a Commission spokesman on Monday as the “beginning of a conversation” about how Britain and the bloc may develop.