Will today be a reset moment for UK-EU relations?published at 10:42
James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent, reporting from Blenheim Palace
“Reset” is the watchword within the EPC. Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants a reboot of the UK-EU relationship.
Other European leaders on the red carpet were happy to echo the word and sentiment. But what does the word mean? That’s less clear.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb exclaimed: “Britain is back in Europe!”
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said: “We are going to reset UK-EU relations!”
But Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said it was “first up to the UK to decide what it wants”.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo has warned the UK against “cherry-picking” new deals with the EU.
Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said there could be no new deals because the British people voted for Brexit.
And specifically regarding Starmer’s plans to tackle immigration, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said there should not be a direct deal with the EU, but rather greater cooperation between police forces.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has welcomed immigration, saying it boosts growth in his economy.
Hungarian President Viktor Orban said it was “too early to make an assessment” of Sir Keir Starmer.
