The British foreign minister announced a "restart" of relations with the European Union during the meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers.
Britain's Labor government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has made restructuring Britain's relationship with the EU its political goal. Downing Street believes the current relationship, defined by the 2019 withdrawal agreement negotiated by Boris Johnson when he was Conservative prime minister, is disadvantageous for the UK.
David Lammy called his participation in the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg "a historic moment that represents a reset of relations with the EU".
"The security of the EU and the UK are inseparable at the moment, whether it's Russia's aggression in Ukraine, the huge problems and conflicts in the Middle East, or global issues and geopolitical issues more broadly," he said.
Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who also attended the meeting, stressed that the European Union and the United Kingdom share common security challenges.
"We are neighbors and partners, we share the same concerns. We stand together for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza," he declared.
"We are convinced that in these dark times, with so many challenges in the world, a strong continent - because we are part of the same continent - requires a strong partnership," Borrell added.
Although both sides appear ready to "reboot" their relationship, it may run into problems. One of the stumbling blocks is the EU's proposal for a youth mobility scheme, which would allow British and EU citizens aged 18-30 to live, study and travel in the UK and EU for a limited period of time.
The British government has so far opposed the proposal, although it has received the support of several EU countries, due to concerns that it could be seen as a return to the free movement of labour. | BGNES
