Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will hold a major summit with EU leaders on May 19 to forge a new Brexit deal.
Plans were set out by Nick Thomas–Symonds, the Government Minister appointed by Sir Keir to lead plans for a “reset” of relations with the EU, who confirmed the May date for the first time.
And the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We can confirm that the UK will welcome European leaders to the UK for the first UK-EU leaders summit on May 19.
“The Prime Minister will host the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“The first UK-EU summit will provide an opportunity to make further progress on areas which will deliver tangible benefits for the people of the UK and EU and further strengthen the relationship between the UK and the EU.”
The summit is expected to be the first in an annual series of meetings between UK and EU leaders.
Mr Thomas-Symonds made it clear that the existing Brexit relationship with the EU would end, saying there would be “a new partnership”.
And he attacked “ideologically-driven division”, in a sign that Labour will reject Brexiteer concerns that the UK is giving up hard-won independent from Europe.
It follows an informal dinner with EU leaders on Monday night, where Sir Keir discussed plans for a new defence pact. The May summit will consider defence, trade and fighting people-traffickers such as those responsible for small-boat crossings.
But Sir Keir is also under pressure to agree to a “youth mobility scheme” giving under-30s from EU countries the right to live and work in the UK for four years, while EU leaders are also demanding access to British fishing waters.
In a major speech in Brussels, Mr Thomas-Symonds said: “The time for ideologically-driven division is over. The time for ruthless pragmatism is now.
“It is through a new partnership between the UK and the EU that we will deliver for the people of the United Kingdom and for people across the Continent.
“The future of the EU and the UK lies beyond the status quo, reaching forward to deliver benefits for all our people to share.
“So let us rise to our shared challenegs and grasp this opportunity because toegther we will create a stronger UK and we will create a stronger Europe.”
He also said: “A study published last year showed that between 2021 and 2023 the goods EU businesses export to the UK were down by 32%, whilst UK goods exports to the EU were down by 27%.
“That is not good for British or European businesses, especially at a time when our economies need a kickstart. Reducing trade barriers is of mutual benefit to the UK and the EU.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned that a new deal with the EU could damage relations with America. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “You can have negotiations, you can be friendly, you can do all those things. But if we start to tie ourselves to industrial collaboration, as appears was agreed last night, then we find ourselves with less flexibility in doing deals with countries like America,” he said.
The Prime Minister called for increased military co-operation and greater industrial collaboration to strengthen defence on the continent at a dinner with EU counterparts on Monday.
Asked about polls showing many Britons want closer ties, Mr Farage said: “We voted to leave. That was very, very clear. We can be friendly, we can be co-operative.”
He was pressed to explain what that means in practice.
“Well, I think the deal that was negotiated by the Johnson government wasn’t a very good one. We can improve on that.”
But Mr Farage suggested that he would not back a new deal even if it ruled out more fishing access to EU boats.
“I do not see that any steps… back towards a failing European Union makes sense in a world that is changing very, very quickly,” he said.
