British Prime Minister Starmer to visit Brussels next Wednesday

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels next Wednesday (2 October) as part of efforts to "reset" Britain's relationship with the European Union. 

Starmer has repeatedly pledged to "reset" relations with the EU since becoming prime minister on 5 July, after his centre-left Labour Party won the election the day before. 

He has already visited Berlin, Paris and Dublin as part of this diplomatic charm offensive. Brussels is his next stop. 

"I want to reset our relationship with the EU and make Brexit work for the British people," the prime minister said on X late on Wednesday (25 October) night. 

Starmer added that he was "looking forward to visiting Brussels next week to start discussions" with von der Leyen. The post was accompanied by a photo of the pair together on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. 

A Commission spokesperson announced on Friday (27 September) that Starmer and von der Leyen would meet the following Wednesday (2 October). Starmer will also meet European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and European Council President Charles Michel the same day, Euractiv understands. 

https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1839052676530627038

Britain left the EU in early 2020, almost four years after a majority of British voters chose to leave the bloc. Starmer, who became a British MP one year before the referendum, backed the losing "Remain" side and later called for a re-run. 

But since becoming leader of the Labour Party, which suffered a major defeat in the Brexit-dominated December 2019 election under the leadership of left-wing firebrand Jeremy Corbyn, he has promised to respect the result. 

Boris Johnson's Conservative Party won that election on a promise to conclude a deal with Brussels that saw Britain fully withdraw from the EU's single market and customs union. 

[Edited by Daniel Eck]