The Prime Minister has said he wants to build closer ties to the bloc where it’s in “the national interest”.
The President of the EU Parliament has urged Starmer to build even closer ties with the bloc (Image: Getty)
An EU chief has said Sir Keir Starmer must forge an even closer relationship with the EU before talks today. Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, referenced Margaret Thatcher’s wish for a “stronger and more pragmatic” relationship. The former Conservative prime minister, hailed for her “no, no, no” declaration in the House of Commons over European integration, described the European Community, the predecessor to the EU, as “a practical means by which Europe can ensure the future prosperity and security of its people”.
But she emphasised in her famous 1988 Bruges Speech that the continent is a “family of nations, understanding each other better, appreciating each other more, doing more together but relishing our national identity no less than our common European endeavour”.
Ms Metsola told the UK’s current prime minister: “Margaret Thatcher believed sovereign nations should work together when it suited their interests. Co-operation, in that sense, was not weakness but leverage.”
Margaret Thatcher says ‘no, no, no’ to Europe
She also insisted in a piece for The Telegraph that the EU is “changing”.
“We are cutting red tape,” the president said, “scrapping rules that weigh on small firms and making the single market work better for those who create jobs.”
Ms Metsola added: “Growth depends on enterprise and innovation, not on excessive paperwork.
“That is a view Britain has long held.”
So far, Labour has reached a defence agreement and a fishing pact with the bloc, giving it access to British waters for 12 years.
Veterinary, energy and climate and ease of travel accords have also been finalised.
The EU wants Britain to align itself with the bloc on trade (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir said during his visit to China earlier this month that he wishes to align even more with EU trade.
He said: “I think the relationship with the EU and every summit should be iterative. We should be seeking to go further.”
The Prime Minister added: “And I think there are other areas in the single market where we should look to see whether we can’t make more progress. That will depend on our discussions and what we think is in our national interest.
“But what I’m indicating here is — I do think we can go further.”
Ms Metsola also argued that Britain aligning itself with the bloc’s carbon market, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, would help decrease the cost of living.
