The United Kingdom and the EU will hold a summit five years after Brexit.
According to British media such as The Guardian on the 10th (local time), Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are scheduled to meet in London on the 19th. Antonio Costa, the permanent chair of the EU summit, will also attend.
Both sides are finalizing security and defense agreements and economic-related agreements. Negotiations among working-level officials are underway.
In an interview with The Guardian, Prime Minister Starmer said he expects "ambitious outcomes" and noted that he wants a closer relationship in security, defense, trade, and economic areas.
This summit marks the first agreement with the EU since the UK Labor Party government took office, five years after Brexit took effect in 2020.
Both sides plan to swiftly proceed with security and defense cooperation in response to the prolonged war in Ukraine and rapid changes in international circumstances following the second term of the Trump administration.
The draft security agreement from the EU includes information sharing, dispute prevention, and joint planning in case of war. Cooperation on space, AI, fake news, and counter-terrorism is also reported to be included, according to The Telegraph.
The UK expects that a security agreement will open the way to join the EU's "rearmament plan."
The economic and trade situation is complicated. EU countries, including France, are demanding an extension of fishing quotas in British waters. The UK wants to ease quarantine procedures for agricultural products.
The proposal to allow residents and workers under 30 years old is also linked to sensitive immigration issues in the UK. It is directly related to the border control issues that were a major cause of Brexit.
Prime Minister Starmer emphasized the need for economic cooperation with the EU, saying, "In a situation where President Trump is pushing tariffs, we need to find ways to lower barriers."
He suggested a pragmatic approach, saying, "We should not look back at Brexit, but instead look forward."
However, political challenges within the UK remain. The Reform Party led by Nigel Farage, who spearheaded Brexit, still holds the top approval rating.