UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will on Monday host a major summit with top European Union leaders in a significant push to strengthen ties between Britain and the 27-member bloc, five years after the country’s contentious exit from the EU.
The meeting, taking place at Lancaster House in London, marks the first official post-Brexit EU-UK summit and is expected to focus on forging deeper cooperation, particularly in areas such as defence, trade, and security. Attending the summit are EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
“This week, the prime minister will strike yet another deal that will deliver in the national interest of this country,” said a Downing Street statement, highlighting the recent positive momentum from trade agreements with the United States and India.
Starmer’s government believes a renewed partnership with the EU can deliver tangible benefits for working-class Britons, including improved economic prospects and increased household income. “The prime minister will set out how a strengthened, forward-looking partnership with the European Union will deliver for working people and lead to more money in pockets,” the statement added.
Despite optimism, negotiations remain tense, with unresolved issues around fishing rights and food import checks. Talks are expected to go down to the wire, although both sides are hopeful of at least formalizing a new defence and security agreement during the summit.
Starmer, who took office in July last year, is seeking a more constructive and collaborative relationship with the EU than the one inherited from the previous Conservative administration. According to his office, the existing post-Brexit deal “isn’t working for anyone.”
The Labour-led government sees closer EU cooperation as vital, particularly amid growing concerns about European defence, heightened by the threat from Russia and uncertainty over future U.S. support under Donald Trump. As part of a potential deal, the UK may engage in more frequent security dialogues, join EU military operations, and possibly access the EU’s planned €150 billion ($167 billion) defence fund.
However, Starmer has emphasized that certain Brexit red lines remain in place. He has ruled out rejoining the EU’s customs union or single market but is open to regulatory alignment in sectors like food and agriculture. In a bid to smooth negotiations, Starmer has also agreed to a youth mobility scheme, allowing young EU citizens to live and work in the UK. He stressed that this is not a reversal of Brexit-era immigration policies, stating, “Youth mobility is not freedom of movement.”
The UK’s cautious approach reflects the political pressure posed by the rising popularity of Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, whose anti-immigration stance has gained traction, particularly following recent local election successes.
Calling the upcoming deal a “really significant moment” in an interview with The Times, Starmer expressed confidence that Monday’s summit would yield meaningful outcomes. “In this time of great uncertainty and volatility,” he said in a Saturday night statement, “the UK will not respond by turning inwards, but by proudly taking our place on the world stage.”
