London, May 20 – Britain and the European Union will hold their first high-level summit since Brexit on Monday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer seeks to “reset” relations with the bloc through a raft of agreements on defence, trade, and geopolitical cooperation.
The summit, taking place in London, comes nine years after the UK voted to leave the EU. It marks the Labour government’s most significant diplomatic outreach since taking office and follows major trade announcements with India and the United States in recent weeks.
“First India, then the United States – in the last two weeks alone that’s jobs saved, faster growth and wages rising,” Starmer said in a statement ahead of the summit. “A stronger UK-EU relationship would be good for our jobs, good for our bills and good for our borders.”
While Monday’s trade announcements are expected to be narrower in scope than the UK’s recent deals with India and the U.S., they will focus on select sectors. Downing Street has positioned the summit as a strategic step toward economic recovery and geopolitical alignment.
Among the unresolved issues leading into the talks are long-term fishing rights – a sensitive point for France – and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. The EU is pushing for the UK to align with future changes to its agricultural regulations, a sticking point since Brexit.
The UK is also seeking access to a new €150 billion EU defence loan scheme, underscoring its interest in greater defence industrial cooperation. Both sides are expected to unveil a defence and security pact and reaffirm their joint support for Ukraine. In March, Starmer hosted European leaders in London for ceasefire discussions aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
A selective easing of mobility rules for professionals is also on the table, alongside a potential youth mobility scheme being promoted by the EU. However, with migration dominating headlines and the right-wing Reform UK party making gains in recent local elections, the Labour government has taken a more cautious stance.
Starmer defended the proposed scheme, telling The Times it did not equate to a return to “freedom of movement,” a central issue during the Brexit referendum.
The summit is being held amid growing uncertainty in transatlantic relations, with shifts emerging between Washington and its European allies. Both London and Brussels are expected to issue a joint statement addressing the current geopolitical climate. Despite several last-minute challenges, including on SPS and migration issues, UK and EU officials are optimistic that the summit will mark a turning point in bilateral ties.
