The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, met on Thursday with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a meeting where both leaders expressed their commitment to exploring new avenues of cooperation, particularly in the areas of security and immigration, within the framework of renewed relations between Brussels and London.
According to the European leader, Brussels and London have “great potential for increased energy cooperation,” as well as in the fields of “defense and security,” and in tackling “illegal immigration.” This meeting comes ahead of the bilateral summit scheduled for mid-May, where both sides aim to make progress in restarting their relationship.
Despite the signs of rapprochement, neither leader mentioned the ongoing negotiations over the status of Gibraltar, which have seen no public developments since the last political round in September 2024.
Speaking alongside the British Prime Minister, von der Leyen emphasized that they share “the same interests and values” and are facing “the same challenges.” She also pointed to a “strategic partnership agreement on security and defense” that could eventually lead to the UK joining the European security program.
