Statement by the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Enhancing Strategic Cooperation
The President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom met today and agreed to strengthen the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. They agreed on the shared challenges facing the European Union and the United Kingdom including the altered strategic context for the wider continent notably resulting from Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. They reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The leaders agreed the UK and European Union would also continue to work closely to address wider global challenges including economic headwinds, geopolitical competition, irregularmigration, climate change and energy prices, which pose fundamental challenges to the shared values of the United Kingdom and the European Union and provide the strategic driver for stronger cooperation.
The leaders reflected on the events in the Middle East overnight and condemned the egregious attack by Iran on Israel. They recognised Israel’s right to self-defence in the face of this unacceptable aggression. De-escalation by all parties in the region was of the upmost importance. They reiterated the need to coordinate the diplomatic response to the situation in the Middle East and called on all sides to show restraint and end the bloodshed. An immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza was required to create the space to allow for political solutions, the leaders underlined.
They agreed on the importance of the unique relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom in addressing such challenges and resolved, in line with our shared values, to strengthen ambitiously their structured strategic cooperation.
They reaffirmed that the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement underpin relations between them and underlined their mutual commitment to the full and faithful implementation of those agreements. They reaffirmed their mutual commitment to uphold international law and to the European Convention on Human Rights. They agreed a stable, positive and forward-looking relationship was in their mutual interests and provided the basis for long term cooperation.
They agreed to take forward this agenda of strengthened cooperation at pace over the coming months, starting with defining together the areas in which strengthened cooperation would be mutually beneficial, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience, in full respect of their internal procedures and institutional prerogatives. They agreed to meet again this autumn.
They agreed on the importance of holding regular EU-UK Summits at leader-level to oversee the development of the relationship. They agreed that a first Summit should take place ideally in early 2025.
Source – EU Commission
Press statement by President von der Leyen with UK Prime Minister Starmer
Dear Prime Minister, dear Keir,
A very warm welcome to Brussels. I am very glad to see you again so soon after New York. Leaders from all over the globe gathered last week at the United Nations General Assembly – where we met. We discussed the many challenges facing our world today. In particular, a geopolitical landscape that is shifting, so rapidly, in front of our eyes – and this is also true for the last days in the Middle East. I strongly condemn the ballistic missile attack launched yesterday by Iran against Israel. This spiral of violence is threatening the lives of innocent civilians. It is also leading to a generalised conflict in the region. This must be avoided at all costs. The European Union therefore continues to call for a ceasefire across the border with Lebanon consistent with Resolution 1701, and in Gaza. And we will keep calling for the release of all hostages, as we have done for almost a year now.
Dear Keir, in these very uncertain times, like-minded partners like us must cooperate more closely. That is what we are doing when it comes to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We remain fully behind Ukraine’s brave fight for freedom and independence. As members of the G7, we coordinate closely our joint and continued support to the people of Ukraine, and we do the same for our sanctions against Russia, because European security concerns us all, in and outside the European Union.
We are strongly aligned in our fight against climate change and global warming. We are both working intensively towards decarbonised and circular economies and the protection of nature. So, many topics where we are very much aligned and share values.
Our alignment on global affairs provides a good foundation for our bilateral relations. We have a set of solid agreements in place. We should explore the scope for more cooperation while we focus on the full and faithful implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Windsor Framework, and the TCA.
So, in short, we have a lot to discuss today. And I am very much looking forward to working with you to continue to strengthen our relations.
Source – EU Commission
PM Starmer met with President of the European Council Charles Michel
The Prime Minister met President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels today.The Prime Minister met President of the European Council Charles Michel in Brussels today.
They discussed the Prime Minister’s commitment to improving the UK’s relationship with the EU and its individual Member States, noting his recent visits to France, Germany, Italy and Ireland.
They agreed a strengthened relationship was of vital importance and welcomed the focus placed on growth, energy, security and stability – which will bring benefits to the UK and the EU.
PM Starmer met with the President of the EU Parliament Roberta Metsola
The Prime Minister set out his ambition to improve the UK’s relationship with the EU and ensure closer co-operation on shared opportunities and wider challenges, which was welcomed by President Metsola.
In that vein, they discussed the dangerous escalation in the Middle East, and agreed that all-out war was in no-one’s interest and must be avoided at all costs.
The Prime Minister welcomed President Metsola’s ongoing support for Ukraine, which both leaders agreed should remain ironclad in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Further information
- Press release: Statement by the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Enhancing Strategic Cooperation: 2 October 2024
- Press release: Joint Statement by the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Enhancing Strategic Cooperation: 2 October 2024
- Press release: Prime Minister to hold talks with EU leaders in Brussels
- Press release: PM call with Chancellor Scholz of Germany: 1 October 2024
- Press release: PM call with President Macron of France: 1 October 2024
Source – UK Government
Statement des EU-Abgeordneten David McAllister (CDU) zum Besuch von PM Keir Starmer in Brüssel
Zum heutigen Besuch des britischen Premierministers Keir Starmer in Brüssel erklärt David McAllister (CDU), Vorsitzender des Auswärtigen Ausschusses des Europäischen Parlaments:
„Premierminister Keir Starmer ist heute zum ersten Mal seit seiner Wahl im Juli in Brüssel, um sich mit Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen über die Zukunft der Beziehungen zwischen der Europäischen Union und dem Vereinigten Königreich auszutauschen.
Obwohl die EU stets klargestellt hat, dass wir vereinbarte Verträge nicht neu verhandeln werden, gibt es mehrere Bereiche, in denen wir zügig Fortschritte erzielen könnten. Die vorherige britische Regierung hatte sich gegen die Aufnahme von außen-, sicherheits- und verteidigungspolitischen Fragen in die ursprünglichen Brexit-Verhandlungen entschieden. Bis heute gibt es in diesem Feld leider keine formalisierte Zusammenarbeit zwischen dem Vereinigten Königreich und der EU. In Zeiten wachsender geopolitischer Spannungen sollten die neue Europäische Kommission und die neue britische Regierung enger zusammenarbeiten. Die anhaltende eng koordinierte Unterstützung der Ukraine gegen den russischen Angriffskrieg belegt das Potential einer erfolgreichen künftigen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspartnerschaft.
Die Mobilität junger Menschen ist entscheidend für unsere künftigen Beziehungen. Es ist enttäuschend, dass offenbar auch die neue Regierung in London eine Rückkehr in das Erasmus Plus Programm nicht erwägt. Das wirkt sich weiterhin negativ auf Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene auf beiden Seiten aus. Vor diesem Hintergrund begrüße ich den Vorschlag der Europäischen Kommission, die Reisefreiheit für junge Menschen zwischen 18 und 30 Jahren zumindest für ein sogenanntes „gap year“ deutlich zu erleichtern. Die Regierung von Keir Starmer wird sich an ihrer Kompromissbereitschaft in dieser Sache auch im Hinblick auf andere Verhandlungsfelder messen lassen müssen.”
Quelle – CDU (per E-Mail)