* . * . . .
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Love Europe
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Travel
No Result
View All Result
Love Europe
No Result
View All Result
Home United Kingdom

‘Britain is back,’ new UK PM Keir Starmer tells Europe

July 19, 2024
in United Kingdom
‘Britain is back,’ new UK PM Keir Starmer tells Europe
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Europe is grappling with challenges ranging from supporting Kyiv after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to breaking up people-smuggling gangs contributing to record levels of irregular migration.

In the background hangs the increasing possibility of Donald Trump regaining the White House in November, with fears over his commitment to the Western military alliance Nato.

Trump’s newly elected running mate J.D. Vance is an outspoken critic of military aid to Ukraine and has pushed for negotiations with Russia to end the two-year-plus war.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (right) speaks during a plenary session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

“It’s very important to be here, for Ukraine, especially this tough period, for us during the war,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the meeting near Oxford, southern England.

“For us it’s very important to maintain unity in Europe because always this unity leads to strong decisions,” Zelensky added.

While at the summit, the Ukrainian leader signed long-term security cooperation agreements with the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, attending an EPC summit for the first time, insisted aiding Ukraine must remain a “joint effort” by Europe and the United States.

In a departure from the often fractious relations that characterised the run-up to Brexit, Starmer, who led Labour to a landslide election win over the Tories on July 4, told European counterparts that his government would be “a friend and a partner ready to work with you”.

He called irregular migration a “crisis” affecting every country attending. More than 380,000 undocumented migrants crossed the EU’s borders last year, and tens of thousands made their way to Britain.

The issue embarrassed Tory administrations under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, who had promised tough action to “take back control” of Britain’s borders after Brexit.

06:27

‘Full audit’ of Sino-UK ties as new Labour Party government looks for reset in bilateral relations

‘Full audit’ of Sino-UK ties as new Labour Party government looks for reset in bilateral relations

Starmer called for a sharing of resources, intelligence and tactics to “shut down the smuggling routes and smash the gangs” behind migrant Channel crossings from northern France in small boats.

He agreed to initiatives with Slovenia and Slovakia to tackle organised crime, and pledged £84 million (US$108 million) to help address poverty driving migrants to Europe.

Cooperation was “the most efficient” way to tackle the problem, French President Emmanuel Macron said, the morning after one migrant died and 71 others were rescued off the French coast. But he warned there was no “silver bullet” to solve the issue.

Starmer had one-on-one conversations with several European leaders, including Macron, as he fleshed out what he wants Britain’s renewed relationship with the EU to look like.

The former human rights lawyer and chief state prosecutor supported Britain remaining in the EU during the 2016 Brexit referendum and was once Labour’s Brexit spokesman.

He has ruled out rejoining the European single market, customs union or freedom of movement, however – to avoid reopening what remains a thorny issue among British politicians and public alike.

But he does want to negotiate a new security pact with the bloc and a veterinary agreement to ease border checks on agricultural foods, as well as an improved trading deal.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron (right) talks to Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the European Political Community meeting near Oxford on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

The EU has said it is open to discussing improvements, but Macron warned there could be no “cherry-picking” by London.

Starmer was quick out of the blocks to congratulate Ursula von der Leyen on securing another term as European Commission president. He eagerly anticipated “working closely” with the EU chief, he said.

Irish premier Simon Harris described Labour’s reset with Europe as a “game changer” while European Council chief Charles Michel said he hoped that a “new chapter” would be opened with the UK.

The choice of Blenheim Palace and its associations with Churchill added further symbolism to proceedings. The Treaty of London, which signed into existence the Council of Europe in 1949, was on display.

Source link : https://amp.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3271020/britain-back-new-uk-pm-keir-starmer-tells-europe

Author :

Publish date : 2024-07-18 19:21:49

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Tags: EuropeUnited Kingdom
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

The Trump-Vance ticket aligns the GOP with Europe’s far right

Next Post

Europe’s Unlikely McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Hotspot

Related Posts

United Kingdom

Britain Points Journey Warning for US – Newsweek – EUROP INFO

UK retail gross sales sink as confidence ebbs, CBI says – Reuters UK – EUROP INFO
United Kingdom

UK retail gross sales sink as confidence ebbs, CBI says – Reuters UK – EUROP INFO

United Kingdom

For the British, warfare stays historic historical past – Le Monde – EUROP INFO

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlights

Malta’s Paradise Island Transformed: A Remarkable Second Chance

Moldova on the Brink of a Demographic Catastrophe: A Disappearing Nation

Montenegro Guard Luka Bogavac Officially Commits to UNC Basketball

Controversial Lawmaker Geert Wilders Reveals Bold 10-Point Plan to Drastically Cut Migration in the Netherlands

North Macedonia vs Belgium: Key Preview and Winning Predictions for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Categories

Archives

July 2024
MTWTFSS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031 
« Jun   Aug »
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • News
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Opinion

© 2024 Love-Europe

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version