The British foreign secretary announced a “reset” in relations with the European Union during a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday.
Britain’s Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made restructuring Britain’s relationship with the EU a policy goal. Downing Street considers the current relationship, defined by the 2019 withdrawal agreement brokered by Boris Johnson when he was Conservative prime minister, as disadvantageous to the U.K.
David Lammy called his participation in the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg “a historic moment that represents a reset with the EU.”
“The security of the EU and the U.K. are indivisible at this moment, whether it is Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the huge problems and conflicts in the Middle East, or global issues and geopolitical issues more broadly,” he said.
Josep Borrell, the European Commission’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, who also attended the meeting, stressed that the European Union and the United Kingdom share security challenges.
“We are neighbors; we are partners; we share the same concerns,” he said. “We stand together for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.”
“We are convinced that in these dark moments, with so many challenges around the world, a strong continent—because we are part of the same continent—requires a strong partnership,” added the EU’s foreign policy chief.
While both sides appear willing to “reset” relations, doing this could face problems. One stumbling block is an EU proposal for a youth mobility scheme that would allow British and EU nationals aged 18-30 to live, study and travel in the U.K. and EU for a time-limited period.
The British government has so far objected to the proposal despite it having the backing of several EU countries, owing to fears it could be perceived as a return to the free movement of labor.
The meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg will be devoted to the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East. The ministers are to adopt sanctions against Iran for arms deliveries to Russia. They will also discuss the issue of bypassing the Hungarian veto on support for Ukraine.
David Lammy called his participation in the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg “a historic moment that represents a reset with the EU.”
“The security of the EU and the U.K. are indivisible at this moment, whether it is Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the huge problems and conflicts in the Middle East, or global issues and geopolitical issues more broadly,” he said.
Josep Borrell, the European Commission’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, who also attended the meeting, stressed that the European Union and the United Kingdom share security challenges.
“We are neighbors; we are partners; we share the same concerns,” he said. “We stand together for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.”
“We are convinced that in these dark moments, with so many challenges around the world, a strong continent—because we are part of the same continent—requires a strong partnership,” added the EU’s foreign policy chief.
While both sides appear willing to “reset” relations, doing this could face problems. One stumbling block is an EU proposal for a youth mobility scheme that would allow British and EU nationals aged 18-30 to live, study and travel in the U.K. and EU for a time-limited period.
The British government has so far objected to the proposal despite it having the backing of several EU countries, owing to fears it could be perceived as a return to the free movement of labor.
The meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg will be devoted to the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East. The ministers are to adopt sanctions against Iran for arms deliveries to Russia. They will also discuss the issue of bypassing the Hungarian veto on support for Ukraine.
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