Keir Starmer will perform Monday, in spite of, the role of a prodigal son of the European Union. It will be an informal dinner, at the Egmont Palace in Brussels (also known as Arenberg Palace), where the conservative prime minister, Edward Heath, signed in 1972 the adhesion treaty of his country to the so -called European Economic Community. That is the place chosen by the president of the European Council, António Costa, for a “retirement” of unpublished leaders to discuss European defense at a key moment for the old continent.
The Labor leader is, although Donald Trump’s return to the White House marks everything, the only point on the agenda of the leaders of the 27 EU member states who, in their “retirement”, will also receive the secretary general of NATO, Mark Rutte. The Union believes that collaboration with the United Kingdom – another of the key allies for supporting Ukraine that is also a member of the Alliance – is essential. Starmer pursues a reinforcement of military cooperation between London and Brussels and plans to ask community partners for a new round of sanctions against Vladimir Putin, to strengthen the support of Ukraine, as well as an increase in economic and military aid for kyiv. The EU already prepares its number 16 of reprisals against the Kremlin and its orbit for the large -scale invasion.
But good understanding in defense between London and Brussels is not discussed. The greatest symbolism of the presence of Starmer in the meeting is political and economic. And while the British prime minister makes equilibrisms so as not to awaken the American lion, with whom he wishes that, in order not to face in solitude the uncertain era that opens.
President Trump has indicated that the United Kingdom could be saved from the tariff battery that his administration intends to apply to EU products. “The United Kingdom is also out of place [en su trato a las exportaciones estadounidenses]but the one that is really is the European Union. In the case of the United Kingdom, I think the problem could be solved (…) Prime Minister Starmer is a nice guy, we have had a couple of encounters and we get along. We will see if we can balance our respective payments of payments, ”Trump added in the early hours of this Monday in statements at the Andrews Air Base.
The dilemma between Washington and Brussels
The Starmer government is aware that Trump’s words have a lot of siren song. Greater flexibility when allowing the entry of American products to the British market, especially agricultural and livestock, would immediately involve greater misalignment with EU standards and standards.
on account of the Brexit negotiations. Starmer announces the month of April as the beginning of an ambitious negotiation between the United Kingdom and the EU to strengthen ties in commercial and defense matters.
“Either of the two relationships [con EEUU y con la UE] It is very important for us. We are not going to choose one on the other, ”said Starmer in Brussels, when asked if he could soften his approach to Brussels to be happy to Trump.
But, at the same time, the Labor politician fears but voted in favor of Brexit in his day, and they don’t want to hear anything related to a new approach to the EU.
Downing Street has so far rejected the attempts of Brussels of I, which would allow children under 30 to both sides of the La Mancha channel perform labor or academic exchanges with a limited time. The proposal brings to the memory of many the freedom of movement of people who enjoyed the United Kingdom when it was part of the EU, one of the reasons that mobilized the vote in favor of Brexit.
And the Labor Government does not get tired of repeating that the exit of the EU is an consummated fact, and that there will never be a return from the United Kingdom to the internal market or the community customs space. But Brexit is a wound that has not finished closing, and that requires political gestures to be cautged. The newspaper The Times He advanced Monday that the French president, Emmanuel Macron, will be very clear with Starmer and will remind him that this adventure was a failure, as it has been possible to verify five years later.
If Starmer wants to recover the protection and collaboration of the EU, he must understand, as happened during the Brexit negotiations, which cannot choose alternatives to his convenience. Brussels will claim to London that it offers gestures of good will, as greater flexibility regarding youth mobility or a greater concession of fishing rights in its waters to community fleets.
