UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host European Union leaders on 19 May for the first in a series of annual summits aimed at revitalising relations post-Brexit, Downing Street announced on Tuesday.
Starmer will welcome European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The location for the meeting has yet to be confirmed, but the summits will, from now on, be held annually.
"This will be an opportunity to make progress in areas that offer tangible benefits to the citizens of the United Kingdom and the European Union and strengthen UK-EU relations," a Starmer spokesperson said.
On Monday, Starmer travelled to Brussels for an informal meeting of European heads of state and government on defence. He was the first British Prime Minister to attend a European summit since the UK left the EU five years ago.
Since taking office in July, Starmer has expressed his intention to "reset" relations with the EU. The social democrat seeks constructive cooperation on trade, energy, security, and defence, following years of tension with conservative governments. However, his plans have remained largely unspecified.
There are no plans for the UK to rejoin the European customs union or the single market, which includes the free movement of people. London has rejected a European proposal for youth mobility over concerns it might lead to a reinstatement of free movement of people.
