THE UK has a “once-in-a-generation opportunity" to turn a "corner on Brexit", the Prime Minister has claimed as he heads to Europe for two days of meetings in Berlin and Paris.
The Labour leader will visit Germany and France as he attempts to put to bed the antagonistic relationship which often characterised the Tory government's dealings with the EU after the UK's Leave vote.
Starmer is in Berlin for talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz amid plans for a new treaty aiming to boost business and increase joint action on illegal migration.
It is expected he will tell Scholz he is focused on making sure the UK moves past Brexit and rebuilds relationships with European partners.
The Labour government will be aiming to boost growth in a flagging UK economy after Starmer warned the public that his first Budget will be "painful", leading to warnings of a new era of austerity.
However, having ruled out any return to the EU's single market or customs union, or any free movement deal even for young people, Starmer has limited his own options.
After Germany, Starmer will travel to Paris for the Paralympics opening ceremony on Wednesday evening, before a breakfast meeting with French business leaders on Thursday morning, and a summit with President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.
It is expected the UK Prime Minister will say: “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset our relationship with Europe and strive for genuine, ambitious partnerships that deliver for the British people.
“We must turn a corner on Brexit and fix the broken relationships left behind by the previous government. That work started at the European Political Community (EPC) meeting last month and I am determined to continue it, which is why I am visiting Germany and France this week.
“Strengthening our relationship with these countries is crucial, not only in tackling the global problem of illegal migration, but also in boosting economic growth across the continent and crucially in the UK – one of the key missions of my Government.”
The UK’s negotiation team will spend the next six months working on the treaty with Germany, aiming to agree a partnership by early 2025.
Starmer and Scholz are also expected to discuss joint action to tackle illegal migration, including further intelligence-sharing to intercept and shut down organised immigration crime rings.
The Prime Minister will also reiterate his personal condolences to the German people following the attack in Solingen on Friday, where three people died.
While he is in Berlin, the Prime Minister is also expected to meet German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the chief executive of Siemens Energy, Dr Christian Bruch.
In Paris, the Prime Minister’s breakfast meeting is expected to include representatives from companies including Thales and Sanofi, and Starmer will then meet Paralympians preparing for their competitions before meeting the French President at the Elysee Palace.
Last month, at the EPC summit held at Blenheim Palace, Starmer said the UK will be a “friend and a partner ready to work” with Europe, and that “we can only make progress on the issues that so many people care about, like illegal migration and national security, if we have the maturity and leadership to reach out a hand to our European friends”.
