The new prime minister is hosting a summit of European leaders amid concerns about the consequences of events in the United States for Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to “kick-start” a closer relationship with Europe as he hosts a major summit focusing on Ukraine and migration.
The Prime Minister will welcome at least 45 European leaders to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), which was set up following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
All European countries – except Russia and Belarus – are invited to the summit, which is intended to galvanise support for Ukraine, where fighting is expected to intensify over the summer.
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This comes just a few days after the attempt on the life of Donald Trump In the United States, the situation appears to have transformed the race for the White House and raised concerns about a possible reduction in financial support for kyiv by the Republican administration.
But the summit is also seen as a golden opportunity for the new government to discuss a European security pact and easing trade constraints with the EU – two of Sir Keir’s stated priorities that Downing Street has said could otherwise take months.
Ahead of the summit, the Prime Minister said the European challenge posed by illegal immigration and people-smuggling networks was an issue in which the UK would play a leading role – an issue that Rishi Sunak had placed at the top of the agenda at previous summit meetings.
After disposal Conservatives’ plan to send failed asylum seekers to RwandaSir Keir will announce the redeployment of 100 Home Office staff working on the policy to a new “rapid returns unit” to return people who are ineligible to stay in the UK to their home countries.
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Sir Keir will say: “We cannot let the challenges of the recent past define our future relationship. That is why European security will be at the forefront of this government’s foreign and defence policy priorities, and that is why I am seeking to seize this opportunity to renew our relationship with Europe.”
“The EPC will kick-start this government’s new approach to Europe, one that will not only benefit us today, but for generations to come, from dismantling the people-smuggling networks that traffic people across Europe, to resisting Putin’s barbaric actions in Ukraine and destabilising activities across Europe.
“My government was elected with a mandate for change. I have asked the British people to judge me on my actions, not my words. This meeting of European leaders is an opportunity to make progress and start delivering on people’s priorities. We can only secure our borders, boost economic growth and defend our democracies if we work together.”
Last week, announcing his priorities for the summit, Sir Keir said Europe could not be “a spectator to this chapter of history”.
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Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is symbolically the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, who, ministers will recall, stood up to tyranny in Europe. It was also used by MI5 during the Second World War.
This is the fourth and arguably most ambitious EPC summit, with leaders from NATO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe were also present.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will host a reception for European leaders in the afternoon.
Sir Keir spoke in Washington this month of his interest in concluding a defence and security pact with the EU, while stressing that Nato was “still the cornerstone of our defence in Europe”.
He has promised closer trade ties with the EU. To underscore the importance of the role, he has also created the post of European Relations Minister, given to his ally Nick Thomas-Symonds.
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Although no official statement is expected at the end of the summit, several individual meetings are planned.
On Wednesday evening, Sir Keir met Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris and will dine with Emmanuel Macron in Blenheim. He is also expected to meet the Polish Prime Minister.
Sir Keir’s focus on migration, coming just after announcing a border security bill in the King’s Speech to tackle people-smuggling gangs, reflects the issue rising on the European agenda.
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New Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Criminal smuggling gangs are making millions from small boat crossings and the Tories have left us with a gimmick instead of a catch.”
“We will work across Europe to tackle this problem at its source, pursuing those who profit from this appalling trade and bringing them to justice.”
