In early 2025, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will attend an informal summit of European Union (EU) leaders, marking the first invitation extended to the UK since the tense Brexit negotiations. The summit, scheduled for February, will focus on future security and defense cooperation, reflecting Europe’s growing concerns over the volatile global landscape.
The meeting’s backdrop is a world embroiled in conflict, with ongoing wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Russia, with backing from Iran, North Korea, and China, continues its aggressive actions against Ukraine, while the potential re-election of Donald Trump in the United States raises new anxieties. Trump’s threats to impose punitive tariffs on imports and his suggestion of withdrawing from NATO—a cornerstone of Western security—have heightened concerns in both the EU and the UK. These global uncertainties have underscored the importance of EU-UK collaboration in preserving security and trade stability.
For the EU, the loss of the UK after Brexit was a blow, stripping the bloc of a significant economy and its only major military power aside from France. The UK, meanwhile, while no longer bound by EU regulations, finds itself with reduced influence on the world stage. However, under Labour’s leadership, the UK has acknowledged the importance of a strong relationship with Europe, especially in addressing key domestic priorities such as the economy, defense, and migration.
Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, emphasized that Europe remains central to the Labour government’s success. “The economy, defence, migration… there’s a European element to all of this,” he said. “Things which will make a success of this government are tied up with Europe.”
Labour has repeatedly pledged an “ambitious reset” in EU-UK relations, and there has been notable diplomatic activity since their election victory. Foreign Secretary David Lammy attended an EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Chancellor Rachel Reeves spoke at an EU finance ministers’ summit, and Starmer himself met with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels.
Despite this goodwill, skepticism persists in Brussels. While EU figures express a desire for closer UK relations, they remain uncertain about the UK’s position on key issues. One anonymous EU diplomat noted, “The headspace is there. The appetite is there in Europe for closer UK relations. What’s less clear is what London is really interested in—and what trade-offs it’s willing to make to get there.”
As the UK and the EU prepare for a summit in the spring, the future of their relationship will depend on the UK’s willingness to engage in meaningful compromise, particularly on issues like trade and migration. With tensions still high, the outcome of the 2025 summit will be a pivotal moment in reshaping EU-UK ties.
