New beginning in UK-EU relations

The European Political Community (EPC) Summit recently took place in southern England, with the participation of nearly 50 European leaders, providing an opportunity for the UK to affirm its determination to rebuild relations with the EU. Following a period of tension due to Brexit, the new leadership of the UK seeks to improve relations with the EU for mutual benefit and jointly address regional challenges.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

In his opening remarks at the EPC Summit held at Blenheim Palace, new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised that Europe needs to unite and take more action to protect the continent's borders. He highlighted the complex challenges facing Europe cannot be solved in isolation and affirmed that the UK will play a more proactive and positive role on the international stage. He stated that the UK will be a friend and partner ready to cooperate with the EU.

This EPC Summit focused on addressing difficulties around Europe's migration, democracy, and energy security issues.

The summit took place just about two weeks after the Labour Party's resounding victory in the UK general election. Public opinion assesses this as the first major opportunity for the new government to promote reconnection with the EU. The UK’s official withdrawal from the EU in 2020, known as Brexit, severely damaged trust between the two sides. Just before the summit, the UK Prime Minister emphasised that the EPC would mark the beginning of a new approach by the government towards the EU, bringing benefits for both present and future generations.

Efforts to reconnect with the EU have also been demonstrated through goodwill actions, notably the recent private meeting between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Irish counterpart Simon Harris, following a long period of tension between London and Dublin over the Northern Ireland issue. According to Simon Harris, his first direct meeting with Prime Minister Starmer since the Labour Party came to power was significant for Ireland.

Amidst the challenges facing the UK economy, rebuilding trust with the EU is essential, as the Labour Party aims to mitigate the restrictions imposed by Brexit, which have harmed trade activities between the two sides. In its election manifesto, the Labour Party had stated that it would adjust its foreign policy with the EU. Just a day after the Labour Party's election victory, the newly appointed UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Germany on his first foreign tour.

The UK's economic growth prospects remain bleak, partly due to the fallout from Brexit. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts that the UK will lag behind most of the economies in the Group of Seven (G7), achieving only 0.4% growth this year and ranking last in the G7 in 2025, with a growth rate of 1%.

The UK government estimates it needs to spend at least 4.7 billion pounds (over 6.06 billion USD) to implement post-Brexit border procedures. Migration and border security are central issues in the UK's plan to improve and strengthen relations with the EU. The UK's Home Office has warned of a difficult summer ahead as the country records a high number of migrants.

According to this country’s government, the total number of migrants arriving in the UK since the beginning of 2024, has been 12% higher than the same period in 2023 and 1% higher than the same period in 2022. More than 1,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel into the UK since the Labour Party's victory in the early July 2024 election.

The UK's Minister for European Relations, Nick Thomas-Symonds, noted that London is seeking a summit between UK and EU leaders, to help finalise a new partnership, with the groundwork to be laid this coming autumn. The new UK government's vigorous efforts to reestablish relations with the EU through positive cooperation are expected to bring new momentum to the country's development.

NDO