Four years after Brexit was finally implemented, the new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that he will meet with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen next week to discuss his plans for a “reset” in relations. “I want a reset in our relationship with the EU and to make Brexit work for the British people,” Starmer wrote late on Wednesday evening on the online service X.
From New York, where he attended the UN General Debate, he also posted a photo showing himself and von der Leyen in deep conversation and wrote that he was looking forward to a visit to Brussels next week. Von der Leyen responded to X by saying that she was pleased to have met Starmer at the General Assembly and was looking forward to welcoming him to Brussels soon.
Next week’s visit will be Starmer’s first as head of government. Previously, there were bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
After taking office in July, Starmer announced that he wanted to renew relations with the EU. “I want to be ambitious about what we can achieve with the EU,” he said. Starmer, who voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 Brexit referendum, made it clear, however, that he would not reverse Brexit. He also ruled out a return to the European single market, the customs union or a reintroduction of the free movement of people.
Brexit remains a highly controversial political issue in the UK. An EU proposal for a mobility agreement for 18- to 30-year-olds was rejected by the previous conservative British government. It is likely that Starmer wants to avoid any impression that he wants to reintroduce basic Brexit regulations such as the abolition of freedom of movement.
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