This is the first time that a British Prime Minister has visited the community institutions in Brussels since 2019, just before the consummation of Brexit. The Labor Party Keir Starmer This Tuesday, in the community capital, he staged his desire “restart” of cooperation with the European Union after the trauma of divorce and the chaos of the last governments preservativesbut despite the good intentions of both parties, they persist important differences on how to face the new phase of relations between the EU and London.
“We are determined to put this relationship back on the stable and positive footing that I think we all want to see,” Starmer said in a brief joint appearance with the Commission president. Ursula von der Leyen. The British Prime Minister also met the President of the European Council, Charles-Micheland the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.
“Dear Keir, in these times of great uncertainty, like-minded partners must cooperate more closely” Von der Leyen told her. The president stressed that the EU and the United Kingdom maintain a common position on issues such as the war in Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East or the fight against climate change.
“Our alignment on international affairs provides a good basis for our bilateral relations. We have a strong set of agreements in place. We must explore possibilities for greater cooperation while focusing on the full and faithful implementation of these pacts, the President insisted. She was referring to the proper implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Windsor Framework which governs the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. -United.
The governments of the Twenty-Seven are demanding that London respect existing agreements as a precondition for improving relations after Brexit. Labour’s Starmer has categorically ruled out a return to the single market and customs union, and Brussels fears he (like his Tory predecessors) will seek an à la carte relationship with the EU, with advantages but without any obligations for London. Something that member states are not willing to accept.
However, Starmer’s aspirations in his relationship with the EU are entirely different. The Labor Prime Minister wants to sign a veterinary agreement to facilitate the transit of goods and another pact which would aim to reduce the bureaucratic procedures that the British musicians looking to tour the EU.
The only issue on which there is some convergence between Brussels and London is the need to strengthen security and foreign policy relations, although neither side has explained how this would be achieved in practice.
