UK Prime Minister Starmer invited to EU conference, signaling improved post-Brexit relations

LONDON — Keir Starmer is set to participate in a gathering of European Union leaders slated for early next year, marking the first occasion a U.K. prime minister has attended such a meeting since the nation exited the bloc in 2020.

Starmer received an invitation to the informal assembly on February 3 in Brussels from European Council President António Costa during their recent discussions at Starmer’s office located at 10 Downing Street.

His office expressed that Starmer is “pleased to accept the invitation and looks forward to discussing enhanced strategic cooperation with the EU, particularly on defense matters.”

In addition, the U.K. and the EU have reached an agreement to initiate regular summits at the leader level, commencing in early 2025.

During their meeting, Starmer and Costa also addressed the ongoing support for Ukraine amid its nearly three-year conflict resulting from Russia’s large-scale invasion and the rapidly evolving situation in Syria.

A joint statement issued by the U.K. and the EU emphasized their consensus on the necessity for a peaceful transition that leads to long-term political stability, which follows the demise of President Bashar Assad’s oppressive regime.

Starmer, who has been at the helm of the center-left Labour Party since its election in July, aims to “reset” the U.K.’s relationship with the 27-member EU, focusing on enhancing security cooperation and mending the trade connections that have been strained since Brexit.

Although he supported staying within the EU during the 2016 referendum, Starmer has firmly rejected the idea of reversing the Brexit decision or rejoining the EU’s free-moving single market and customs union, which would compel the U.K. to accept numerous EU regulations.

He has also faced mounting pressure to establish a youth mobility agreement that would allow young individuals from both the U.K. and the EU to live and work in each other’s territories for certain periods. However, a representative from Starmer’s office indicated that there are “no plans” to pursue such an initiative.