Keir Starmer will use a meeting with the European Commission president this week to pave the way for a spring review of Britain’s Brexit deal, amid warnings that closer ties will be essential in his government’s desperate quest for growth. .
The prime minister will meet Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday in Brussels. However, it comes at a time when Inside Minister Yvette Cooper remains vehemently opposed to a deal that would allow young people to move more freely between Europe and the UK, a move EU diplomats see as key to Unlock more serious conversations in the spring.
The EU ambassador to the United Kingdom, Pedro Serrano, recently appeared to propose a relatively narrow youth mobility scheme that would allow young Europeans to spend a gap year in Britain more easily, and vice versa. Starmer flatly rejected a broader deal, leaving officials in Brussels unsure about how seriously the UK is really serious about strengthening its ties with the EU.
This week’s talks are seen as paving the way for an EU-UK summit next spring. Discussions are expected to continue through the fall to prepare for a summit, although sources have said it was too early to discuss the results. The summit would be between Starmer and the heads of the main EU institutions, von der Leyen and the incoming president of the European Council, António Costa.
Whether the UK commits to some sort of under-30 deal is emerging as an early test of how serious Starmer is about his proposal to reset relations. EU diplomats have been deeply irritated by the UK government’s description of the proposal as “free movement of people”, pointing out that any plan would have time and age limits.
“The EU is particularly interested in youth mobility, which appears to have become a test of good faith,” said Anand Menon, UK director at think tank Altering Europe. “It’s as if they were saying, ‘If the UK is serious, it will make some concessions on this.’ I don’t think they expect to get everything they ask for, but some Member States are desperate.
“There is political pressure to allow young people to come here. From our point of view, we want to start unlocking some of the little things that exist in the world. [Brexit deal] “That might make life easier.”
Downing Road remains opposed to a deal on youth mobility. However, Labor insiders said Cooper remained his biggest opponent, given his desire to reduce immigration. “They are blaming Yvette for not being able to do [more]but they know that they have to do youth mobility to get something out of the EU,” said one.
There is no suggestion that Labor will consider rejoining the customs union or the EU single market, the only measures likely to be a game-changer in terms of economic growth prospects. However, there is also confusion in Labor ranks over Starmer’s willingness to take political risks to open a major reworking of the Brexit deal in the spring.
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“On the Labor side, there is political pressure to be seen to be doing something,” Menon said. “It’s almost a reflection of the Conservatives, because they spent a lot of time talking more extremely about the EU than they were willing to act on in practice. “With the Labor Party, its members and voters want them to have a closer relationship with the EU, so the Labor Party has to do enough to keep those people happy without crossing any of its red lines.”
A senior EU diplomat welcomed von der Leyen’s proposal to restore relations between the EU and the UK, but suggested London also needed to take the lead in bringing forward proposals. “We miss Britain a lot on many council issues.” [of EU ministers]“said the diplomat. “A better relationship is very important, but again what is very important is to remember that it was the UK that resigned.”
