Keir Starmer to debate European defence with all 27 EU leaders | Defence coverage

Keir Starmer’s hopes for a defence and safety pact danger being stalled over fishing rights, as he heads to Brussels for the primary post-Brexit assembly of its type on Monday.

The prime minister has been invited to affix the EU’s 27 heads of state and authorities for dinner in Brussels to debate EU-UK defence, a topic that has gained urgency following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.

The invitation, from the European Council president, António Costa, comes earlier than an EU-UK summit this spring, which is meant to be a springboard for bettering the connection, though potential outcomes stay unclear.

The broader EU-UK reset will not be on the day’s agenda however Starmer remains to be going through calls from the Liberal Democrats to make use of the summit as a chance to push for a return to the customs union.

The prime minister dominated that out on Sunday – saying rejoining the one market, customs union and free motion have been a purple line. Nevertheless, in the end a deal on safety cooperation and getting smoother customs preparations can be a precedence for the UK.

The working dinner on Monday on the Palais d’Egmont in central Brussels would be the first time a UK prime minister has met all 27 EU leaders since Britain’s formal exit from the union 5 years in the past. Starmer may also meet the Nato secretary basic, Mark Rutte, who’s seen as one in all Europe’s most skilful communicators with Donald Trump.

In October Starmer met the European Fee president, Ursula von der Leyen, when the 2 sides agreed to strengthen cooperation “at tempo” together with in safety.

Greater than three months later, little has superior. The EU has drawn up tips for the reset that stress an early deal on fishing rights is critical for shifting ahead in different areas.

Yvette Cooper, the house secretary, mentioned on Sunday that Starmer would search to enhance customs preparations with Europe with out returning to a full union with the bloc.

Pressed on Sky Information’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme on what totally different customs preparations might imply, she mentioned the federal government needed to “eliminate a number of the paperwork” throughout borders. Cooper dominated out becoming a member of the customs union as a “purple line” however left the door open to the potential of one other kind of customs deal.

She described a youth mobility scheme sought by the EU as “not the precise start line for us in any respect” however the authorities has been cautious to not rule it out as a part of an total deal.

Three EU diplomatic sources mentioned {that a} package deal strategy utilized to any EU-UK safety pact, with a big majority of member states supporting this strategy.

One senior EU diplomat mentioned the connection with the UK had “many various buckets”, itemizing safety, power, fisheries, migration, youth mobility and a veterinary settlement, and mentioned all have been interlinked.

“We share safety pursuits with the UK and the UK shares it with us,” the diplomat mentioned. “However on the identical time, and there’s no beating across the bush, that the longer term relationship on fisheries can be essential.”

They added that there was “no direct tradeoff” between fish and safety, however that the fee, which can lead negotiations, must maintain the totally different points in parallel.

The EU wish to roll over the present post-Brexit settlement on fishing rights, which expires in June 2026, however Starmer can be beneath stress from Reform UK to get greater quotas for British fishing fleets.

The battle over sequencing is harking back to the Brexit negotiations, when the EU mentioned “nothing is agreed till the whole lot is agreed” so as to maximise leverage.

The talks on the dinner usually are not anticipated to debate such particulars, nor attain any formal conclusions. Costa, a former Portuguese prime minister, who took over chairing European Council conferences in December, needs casual discussions with none ultimate textual content.

In a letter forward of the occasion, Costa mentioned the EU27 wanted to debate “targets and priorities with non-EU companions” and went on to explain the UK as “a key accomplice”.

Earlier than the 27 leaders meet Starmer, they may have daylong talks between themselves which can be prone to be much less consensual. France, Italy, Spain, Poland and Estonia wish to see frequent EU funds for defence – raised by frequent borrowing. Germany’s authorities, which is going through elections this month, backed by its frugal ally the Netherlands, is deeply against extra shared debt.