British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met his Irish counterpart Simon Harris in Dublin in a visit described as a “reset”This is the first time in five years that a British leader has visited Ireland. The two countries are keen to deepen their relations on economic and security issues.
Mr Harris is the first international leader Mr Starmer has welcomed after his Labour party’s landslide victory in the July 4 election. “Today is a really important day because we have clearly expressed our ambition to reset our relationship and today we are going further”said the British Prime Minister.
“It is clear that by March we want to have a summit to show what we have achieved, and then annual summits thereafter. (…) I know that as new leaders of our respective countries we have both said that we are serious about putting British-Irish relations on a new path. I really appreciate the time you have given us since you took office.”Mr Harris told Mr Starmer.
Relations between London and Dublin have been strained since the UK voted to leave in 2016, a result that affected the political and commercial structures of Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK.
When the UK left the European Union, London and Brussels agreed to keep the Irish border free of customs posts and other checks, because an open border is a key pillar of the peace process that ended 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland.
Mr Starmer said the restoration of relations must cover the Good Friday Agreement, the landmark 1998 deal that ended the conflict known as the “Troubles”. “I take our shared role in this area very seriously. I have been very clear about this for many, many years and I renew that commitment here today.”Mr Starmer said.
The British Prime Minister said that now was the time to strengthen relations, both with Ireland and with the European Union. He added that the UK would not seek to re-join the EU under his leadership, nor the single market and customs union.
However, he made clear he wanted to renegotiate some elements of the post-Brexit trade deal with the EU to support growth, in what he called “the broader EU reset”. “We are also resetting our relationship with the EU and I have been very clear that I want a closer relationship with the EU.”he said.
“It’s about security, it’s about defence, but it’s also about trade, reducing friction, and every Irish business will tell you that reducing friction is helpful, and so we want to redefine that relationship.”
Since his election victory, Mr Starmer has toured European capitals, including Paris and Berlin, in the hope of generating the goodwill needed to move forward on this front, as well as “to stand together” on international issues such as the war in Ukraine.
Mr Starmer and Mr Harris attended a business roundtable in Dublin to explore how a “reset” Relations can be beneficial for trade. Economic relations between the two countries support thousands of jobs on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Related News :