On Tuesday 17 December in Brussels, the European Affairs ministers of the European Union countries discussed the United Kingdom’s desire to ‘reset’ its bilateral relations with the EU, as requested by the new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer (see EUROPE 13495/16).
The Hungarian Minister, János Bóka, summed up the mood of the discussion at the end of the General Affairs Council. The EU27 must “remain pragmatic and forward-looking”, setting “clear limits to what is feasible and mutually beneficial” and working towards “strong and ambitious partnerships”.
The British Prime Minister has been invited to attend the European leaders’ defence retreat on 3 February (see EUROPE 13534/20) and an EU/UK summit will be held next spring, probably in April.
The Member States now aspire to strengthen defence cooperation with London, but have made it a precondition that existing post-Brexit agreements, particularly on cooperation and trade, be respected. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)