Will today be a reset for UK-EU relations?published at 10:42
James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent, reporting from Blenheim Palace
“Reset” is the word of the day at the EPC. Sir Keir Starmer
says he wants a reset in UK-EU relations.
Other European leaders arriving on
the red carpet were happy to echo both the word and the sentiment. But what
does it mean? Well, that’s less clear.
Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb,
gushed: “Britain is back in Europe!”
Josep Borrell, the EU foreign affairs
chief, said: “We are going to reset UK-EU relations!”
But Ireland’s PM, Simon
Harris, said it was “first for the UK to decide what it wants”.
Belgium’s PM,
Alexander de Croo, warned against UK “cherry picking” new arrangements with the
EU.
Charles Michel, European Council President, said there could be no new
deals because the British people had voted for Brexit.
And specifically on Starmer’s plans to tackle migration, Slovenia’s PM, Robert Golob, said there
should be “no direct deal” with the EU but instead more cooperation between
police forces.
Spain’s premier Pedro Sanchez, actually praised migration,
saying it was driving growth in his economy.
Viktor Orban, Hungary’s leader,
said it was “too early to make an evaluation” about Sir Keir Starmer.