2023-09-19 07:55:45
The leader of the Labor Party, Keir Starmerwill culminate this Tuesday in Paris a small international tour who has had two main objectives: to present himself as the future prime minister of the United Kingdom and show your intention getting closer again to the European Union After a few turbulent years marked by the Brexit. The renegotiation of the agreement in several areas, including economic, scientific and security, will mark the meeting with the president of France, Emmanuel Macronand will lay the foundations for a new relationship between London and Brussels in the event that Labor’s victory is confirmed in the next general elections, predicted by all the polls.
Starmer has uncovered some of his letters in recent days, far from the caution that has characterized his time in the opposition until now. Added to the desire to close an agreement with the EU on migration matters, expressed last week during a visit to the Europol headquarters in The Hague, is his intention to review business relationships and open a new chapter in economic matters from 2025. “Almost everyone recognizes that the agreement to which he arrived [Boris] Johnson It is not a good agreement: it is too scarce“said the Labor leader in an interview with the ‘Financial Times’.
International wear
Starmer has ruled out returning to the customs unionbut has shown its intention to review the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, negotiated by Johnson, as well as a greater rapprochement in energy matters and international mobility. “I feel very strongly that, since Brexit, there is a feeling that we have not only left the EU, but that somehow we have turned our backs on the world. Wherever you go people feel the absence of the United Kingdom: previously one of the main voices, now rarely consulted,” he told ‘Politico’, on the sidelines of a international meeting of left-wing leaders, held this weekend in Montreal and also attended by the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
This Tuesday’s meeting with Macron represents a new step in Starmer’s strategy of relocate to the United Kingdom on the international scene. A path that the current prime minister has also tried to take, Rishi Sunakwith the approach to powers such as USA, China and the India in recent months and with new agreements with the EU after a period of international discredit under Johnson’s leadership. However, the conservatives they have not taken long to criticize the plans of labor leaderwho is accused of wanting return to the pre-Brexit model and who are reminded of his support for remaining in the community club during the referendum campaign.
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement is due for review in 2025, but it remains to be seen to what extent the European authorities They are willing to change it. Although Starmer’s desire is to strengthen ties with Brussels if he wins the elections, in the community capital there will be no hot cloths when demanding a counterpart by the Government in London, which establishes a balance between the rights and obligations of the two parties. In it immigration casethe Labor leader has been in favor of reaching an agreement with the EU for the distribution of immigrants, but has refused to enter the quota model proposed by the European Commission to the member countries. Something that has raised questions about the viability of a possible agreement.
Atypical meeting
The fit of the United Kingdom in Europe in the post-Brexit era is the main topic on the agenda this Tuesday in Paris, in a meeting which has been classified as atypicalsince the French president does not usually hold meetings of this type with opposition leaders from political families other than his own. Starmer’s lead in the polls, of nearly 20 points over the Conservative Party, has justified the exception, although since the British executive They have tried to play down the issue and have pointed out that the meetings between heads of government and foreign opposition leaders it’s something common. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama already did it with Tony Blair and David Cameron, respectively, before they won the elections.
The French Government has insisted that the relationship between Macron and Sunak is fluid and has highlighted that the meeting with Starmer It’s part of normality in relations between the two countries, just over a year before the general elections in the United Kingdom. In a gesture of cordiality, Macron himself informed the British Prime Minister of his meeting with the Labor leader at the G20 summit, held earlier this month in New Delhi.
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