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Sir Keir Starmer will take his mission to “reset” Britain’s relations with the EU to Brussels on Wednesday, but European capitals are warning that the UK prime minister should not expect an easy ride.
Although Starmer has improved the mood between London and its former EU partners, member states warn that familiar issues such as fisheries, a youth mobility deal and an objection to British “cherry picking” will loom over future talks.
The UK premier, who opposed Brexit, has insisted Britain will not rejoin the EU single market or customs union, prompting some member states to question whether Starmer’s plans amount to a full reset of relations.
Downing Street said Starmer would discuss his ambitions for the next few months with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Council president Charles Michel and president of the European parliament Roberta Metsola.
He is focused on the idea of a wide-ranging EU/UK security pact, covering issues such as defence, migration and security, with a view to a summit between the two sides next spring, according to UK officials.
Starmer also wants to agree a veterinary deal to cut border friction on agrifood trade, an agreement on professional qualifications and a deal to help touring musicians from Britain to travel easily across the bloc, they added.
His chancellor Rachel Reeves has also suggested that Britain could become a rule taker for EU regulations covering established industries, such as chemicals, although both sides are sceptical about whether such a regime could work.
EU ambassadors, meeting ahead of the Brussels talks, said the commission should block what they said was a British tendency for “cherry picking” access to the EU single market, according to people briefed on the discussions.
While Starmer’s broad concept of closer ties with Brussels has widespread support among the EU’s 27 member states, stances diverge on what specific areas should be targeted.
A degree of confusion also prevails over what London wants in areas such as youth mobility and whether the UK is prepared to accept “dynamic alignment” with EU rules in order to secure a veterinary agreement.
Officials from von der Leyen’s office told member states at a hastily arranged briefing to ambassadors on Monday that the EU would prioritise areas such as citizens’ rights, fisheries and youth mobility.
Starmer has ruled out a return to “free movement”, but British ministers believe a compromise could be found with Brussels to allow greater opportunities for young people to move between the EU and UK.
The ambassadors also named their own wish lists of focus areas, according to the people, not all of which overlapped with the core priorities of either side, confirming the potential complexity of any future EU/UK deal.
“Everyone wants to see things improve,” said one of the people briefed on the meeting. “But until we know exactly what we are talking about, it’s hard to get too excited.”
Some countries urged von der Leyen to be cautious about any new initiatives, pointing out that the UK had been clear on its “red lines” and reminding the commission it should always put the EU’s interests first, the people said.
Any changes to the EU’s relationship with the UK will almost certainly require unanimity among its member states, many of whom still harbour grievances over London’s failed attempt to divide the bloc with bilateral approaches during the Brexit negotiations.
Starmer and von der Leyen’s meeting comes two weeks after UK and EU official advisory groups on the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement called for greater co-operation between the two sides.
“The EU and the UK should co-operate over their respective legislation that has an impact on trade,” they wrote, citing new EU directives to monitor the effects of deforestation and sustainability.
They also called for “enhanced mobility” for businesses and citizens as well as “pragmatic” implementation of border checks that will be introduced this year by both London and Brussels.
Meanwhile Reeves is planning to revive talks with China over improved economic and financial ties, with UK Treasury officials saying initial discussions were under way including a possible visit by the chancellor to Beijing.
Formal talks between London and Beijing on financial co-operation last took place in 2019 but were frozen once previous Conservative prime ministers toughened their stance on China.
Reeves has signalled she wants to improve trade with China as part of the new government’s drive to boost growth and the idea of a meeting next year — first reported by Sky News — will provide a focus for those efforts.