British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Council President Antonio Costa have agreed to hold the second UK-EU Summit in Brussels on July 22, marking a significant step in the Labour government's efforts to rebuild ties with the European Union nearly a decade after Brexit.
Announcement at G7 Meeting
Following a bilateral meeting with Costa on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, France, on Tuesday, Starmer took to social media to announce the date. He stated, "Today I've agreed with @eucopresident that we will hold the second UK-EU summit on 22 July."
Starmer emphasized his government's commitment to resetting relations, saying, "My Labour Government is delivering on our promise to reset our relationship and put Britain at the heart of Europe. Together we will tackle the cost of living, boost jobs and create opportunities for young people."
EU Perspective on Cooperation
European Council President Antonio Costa echoed the importance of closer cooperation, posting on X: "Good discussion with Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer. Close EU–UK cooperation is essential for our shared European security, resilience, and prosperity. We are working closely together to make our upcoming second Summit in Brussels on 22 July a success."
Summit Date Finalized After Deliberations
According to Politico, London and Brussels initially aimed for July 13, but the date was pushed back due to uncertainty over potential opposition from some EU member states regarding a proposed youth experience scheme that could ease visa access for British applicants. The summit is expected to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing reset of UK-EU relations, with Starmer seeking closer cooperation while maintaining that Britain will not rejoin the bloc.
Debate Over Future EU Re-entry
The debate over Britain's future relationship with the EU resurfaced after Treasury minister Lord Spencer Livermore described eventual British re-entry into the European Union as "an inevitability." Speaking in the House of Lords on June 1, Livermore said, "Should we in due course reenter the European Union, well of course, my personal view is that that is an inevitability." He added, "Of course, the UK will at one point reenter the European Union," but stressed, "In the meantime, we are doing the European reset, and that is incredibly important in helping growth in our economy."
Starmer's push to strengthen ties with Europe has drawn criticism from opponents who argue that the government is seeking to gradually reverse elements of Brexit, the 2016 referendum decision that saw Britain leave the EU after a campaign focused on immigration, sovereignty, and economic policy.
