Starmer's Brussels Visit Could Signal Shift in Brexit Relations

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Keir Starmer is preparing to reset the UK's relationship with the European Union, with plans to overhaul Britain's Brexit deal by the spring. This week, the Prime Minister will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. The talks come amid growing acknowledgment that stronger ties with the EU are crucial as the UK faces economic challenges and the need for growth.

 

One of the key points of contention in the upcoming discussions is youth mobility. Starmer's government remains divided on the issue, particularly due to opposition from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Cooper has consistently opposed an agreement that would allow young people to move more freely between Europe and the UK, a proposal seen by many EU diplomats as essential for unlocking broader discussions in the spring. Pedro Serrano, the EU’s ambassador to the UK, recently floated the idea of a limited youth mobility scheme that would make it easier for young Europeans to spend a gap year in Britain and vice versa. However, Starmer rejected the idea of a more comprehensive deal, leaving officials in Brussels uncertain about the UK's intentions regarding closer EU ties.

 

These preliminary talks are expected to lay the groundwork for a more formal EU-UK summit in the spring, where Starmer will meet with von der Leyen and António Costa, the incoming president of the European Council. However, it remains unclear what the outcomes of these discussions will be. Whether Starmer is willing to engage in any form of agreement on youth mobility will be an early indicator of how serious his government is about resetting relations with the EU. EU diplomats have grown frustrated with the UK's characterization of the youth mobility proposal as a form of "free movement of people," pointing out that the scheme would be age- and time-limited.

 

"The EU is particularly keen on youth mobility, which seems to have turned into a test of good faith," said Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank. "It’s like they’re saying, ‘if the UK is serious, it’ll make some concessions on this.’ I don’t think they expect to get everything they’re asking for, but some member states are desperate. There’s political pressure to let young people come here. From our point of view, we want to start unlocking some of the kind of small things around the [Brexit deal] that could make life easier."

 

While Downing Street continues to oppose any youth mobility deal, Labour insiders point to Cooper as the leading figure resisting this move due to her desire to curb immigration. “They are blaming Yvette for not being able to do [more], but they know they have to do youth mobility to get anything out of the EU,” one source said.

 

At this stage, Labour is not considering rejoining the EU’s customs union or single market, steps that could have a more profound impact on the UK's economic growth. Within Labour’s ranks, there is some uncertainty about Starmer’s willingness to take significant political risks in order to achieve a meaningful revision of the Brexit deal. "On the Labour side, there’s political pressure to be seen to be doing something," Menon said. "It’s almost the mirror image of the Tories, because they spent a lot of time talking more extremely about the EU than they were willing to act in practice. With Labour, its members and voters want them to have a closer relationship with the EU, so Labour has to do enough to keep those people happy without actually breaching any of its red lines."

 

An EU diplomat welcomed the proposed reset in relations but emphasized that the UK also needs to take proactive steps. “We are missing Great Britain very much on many issues in the council [of EU ministers],” the diplomat said. “A better relationship is very important, but again what is very important is to remember that it was the UK that quit.”

 

Based on a report from: The Guardian 2024-09-30