European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Brussels on Wednesday with an invitation to work closer together in “very uncertain times.”
“Like-minded partners like us must cooperate more closely,” von der Leyen said, listing their shared beliefs on fighting climate change and supporting Ukraine against the full-scale Russian invasion.
Starmer is in the Belgian capital for his first visit in an effort to reset relations with the European Union after a fraught relationship during the previous Conservative government.
The Labour prime minister said he wants to “make Brexit work” for the British public and put relations with the bloc on a more stable footing to boost British economic growth and security interests.
“In dangerous times, we have a duty to work together to preserve stability and security,” he said. Starmer also identified migration as an area where there was scope for cooperation with the EU.
How Britain hopes to improve ties with the EU still remains unclear. A British government statement ruled out returning to the EU’s customs union, single market or accepting the bloc’s freedom of movement rules for EU citizens.
Von der Leyen emphasized that the EU and Britain have a set of agreements in place after Britain left the bloc that require a “full and faithful implementation.”
The European Commission president and the British prime minister condemned the ballistic missile attack on Israel by Iran together and called for calm to stop conflict spreading in the Middle East.
Starmer said all parties must “pull back from the brink” and find a way to de-escalate. Von der Leyen repeated the EU’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza and on the Lebanese border.
