On Wednesday 2 October in Brussels, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, agreed to “strengthen the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union” and to explore the possibilities for increased cooperation, according to a joint press release issued after the meeting.
They agreed on the common challenges facing both sides, such as the war in Ukraine, and recognised that they must continue to “work closely to address wider global challenges, including economic headwinds, geopolitical competition, irregular migration, climate change and energy prices”.
They also reaffirmed “that the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement underpin relations between them”. The press release goes on to stress “their mutual commitment to the full and faithful implementation of those agreements”.
They should therefore “take forward this agenda of strengthened cooperation at pace over the coming months, starting with defining together the areas in which strengthened cooperation would be mutually beneficial, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience, in full respect of their internal procedures and institutional prerogatives”. They are due to meet again this autumn, and a first EU/UK summit “should take place ideally in early 2025”.
Ursula von der Leyen said that she wanted to “explore the scope for more cooperation while we focus on the full and faithful implementation of the withdrawal agreement”, during a brief presentation to the press prior to her discussion with Mr Starmer.
The British Prime Minister, for his part, said he “firmly believes that the British public wants to return to pragmatic, sensible leadership when it comes to dealing with our closest neighbours” to ensure “that Brexit works” and acts “in their interests” to “boost economic growth, strengthen our security and tackle shared challenges such as irregular migration and climate change”.
The two leaders had already spoken last week in New York at the United Nations General Assembly, and had agreed to meet in Brussels to strengthen ties, whether in terms of youth mobility (the country participates in Horizon Europe, but not in Erasmus), international affairs or migration.
According to the Financial Times, discussions could also focus on a new form of labour migration, although Keir Starmer rules out a return to free movement between the two blocs.
The EU and the UK parted company at the end of 2020, with relations governed by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK’s EU Withdrawal Agreement (which deals in particular with the issue of residence permits and the maintenance of the rights of European nationals in the UK and British nationals in the EU) and the so-called ‘Windsor Framework’, which organises the fluidity of trade in Northern Ireland, with both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
Without going back on the UK’s exit from the EU or asking for new access to the single market, the British leader is calling for new avenues of cooperation to be explored.
At an exchange of views on Monday 30 September, the Member States welcomed the British government’s new tone towards the EU, but wished to remain closely involved in any new cooperation projects. They also reiterated that the implementation of existing agreements remains a prerequisite.
The Member States have reached a consensus not to reopen these agreements, but believe that certain points merit discussion to ensure a more positive relationship with the United Kingdom.
For coastal countries, this involves the issue of fishing and access to British waters. Some countries, such as France, are also receptive to new solutions to the migration issue.
The President pointed out that the positions of the two parties are already aligned on a large number of issues. “We are clear in these very uncertain times, like-minded partners like us must cooperate more closely”, said Mrs von der Leyen.
“In the ongoing war in Ukraine, we work ever more closely with our allies. In dangerous times, we have a duty to work together to preserve stability and security”, also commented the British leader, who was also due to meet the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. “We are determined to put this relationship back on a stable and positive track”, he added. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)