UK: Starmer Travels to Brussels for EU Talks

Facts

• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer traveled to Brussels on Wednesday to hold meetings with European Commission Pres. Ursula von der Leyen, European Council Pres. Charles Michel, and European Parliament Pres. Roberta Metsola.^[1]
• A press release from von der Leyen and Starmer claimed the two agreed to an 'agenda of strengthened cooperation at pace,' while also announcing the intention to host 'regular' EU-UK Summits 'ideally' beginning in early 2025.^[2]
• The European Commission president reportedly sought to begin talks on extending European access to British waters for fishing post-2026, and a UK-EU migration deal allowing the UK to reject small boat migrants in return for agreeing to an annual quota of accepted asylum seekers.^[3]
• It has also been reported the EU desires an agreement with the UK on a youth mobility scheme for those under 30 years old — a policy that has previously been rejected by Starmer.^[4][5]
• Last week, both German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and former French interior minister Gérald Darmanin claimed Brexit had 'seriously affected the coherence of migration policies' and called for an EU-UK agreement in a letter to the European Commission.^[6]
• Starmer has previously stated his intention to amend the 2020 UK-EU trade deal set to be reviewed in 2026 without rejoining the single market or customs union after the UK voted to leave the European bloc in 2016.^[7][8]

Sources: ^[1]Reuters, ^[2]GOV.UK, ^[3]The Times, ^[4]Guardian, ^[5]The Telegraph, ^[6]Forbes, ^[7]BBC News (a) and ^[8]BBC News (b).

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by Guardian. Handicapped by Boris Johnson's disastrous Brexit deal and with no intention of returning to the single market or customs union, Starmer's options for revitalizing the UK's European relationship are limited but absolutely necessary for the country's success. Steps such as rejoining the European Economic Area would be an important message to not only the EU but also the entire world that the UK is back in business.
• Right narrative, as provided by Europeanconservative. Starmer's gleeful rekindling of a close-knit UK-EU relationship blatantly betrays the will of the British people who voted to leave the European bloc eight years ago. Despite the country's clear rejection of European bureaucracy, it's likely that the UK government will give in to a host of damaging concessions in order for Starmer to fulfill his Eurocentric dreams.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Euractiv and LBC. The UK's desire for a reset in relations with the EU will be easier said than done. Starmer and his government may well seek concessions from their poorly negotiated withdrawal agreement, but they are unlikely to see any progress until the UK fully honors several provisions that continue to be unlawfully ignored and accepts key pillars of European society such as free movement and the single market.

Predictions