For his first visit to the institutions of the European Union (EU), Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Brussels on Wednesday October 2 with a seemingly clear roadmap: “reset” the very deteriorated relations between the United Kingdom and the EU. The British leader wants to break with the defiant attitude of his conservative predecessors (especially Boris Johnson and Liz Truss) and strengthen ties with partners deemed essential, in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment, while the conflict in the Middle East is becoming regionalized. .
“The UK is stronger when we work closely with our closest international partners. This has never been more important at a time when war, conflict and insecurity are all knocking on Europe’s door.”declared Keir Starmer upon his arrival at the European Commission. “In these very uncertain times, like-minded partners must cooperate more closely”added Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, welcoming him.
“The mere arrival of the British Prime Minister is a symbol and an event in itself. For the first time since 2019, a British head of government is going to Brussels to resume dialogue,” recalls Sébastien Maillard, special advisor to the Jacques-Delors Institute. If the arrival at Downing Street, in July, of a leader considered serious and of good will was welcomed with optimism by Brussels, the four trying years of Brexit negotiations then, just after the divorce, the frictions which persisted around of the thorny question of the Northern Irish border, decided only in 2023, have made Europeans cautious.
Haunted by the British strategy
The ambassadors of the Member States, gathered on Monday September 30 to prepare the meeting, demanded to be associated with any new initiative from the Commission vis-à-vis London. “For now, we must stick to past agreements, recalls a European diplomat. We must not reopen, but rather apply the trade agreement signed with London as well as the protocol concerning Northern Ireland. » And to add: “It’s not enough to say you want a reset. It is essential that the principles applied during the Brexit negotiations still apply. It is essential to protect the integrity of the internal market and to respect the agreements, with faithful implementation. »
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