A spokesperson for the European Commission stated on Monday that the EU is «re-evaluating» its plans to hold a summit with the UK at the end of July, as the likelihood grows that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s successor will assume office within a little over three weeks.
The summit between the EU and the UK, scheduled for July 22, is increasingly uncertain following UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement of a timetable for his departure from 10 Downing Street earlier Monday, with Brussels confirming that the original arrangements are under reconsideration.
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«Together with European Council President Costa and the UK, we are currently reassessing the possibility of holding the summit as announced last week, and will decide on the next steps accordingly,» European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho told Euronews on Monday in response to a question.
Starmer’s administration prioritized mending strained post-Brexit relations with the European bloc and was nearing the conclusion of several agreements to reinforce trade connections, harmonize electricity markets, and enhance youth mobility in time for the second summit of its kind, planned for July 22.
The summit date was only confirmed last week during a meeting between Starmer and the European Commission and Council Presidents, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, at the G7 summit held in France.
However, Starmer’s decision to resign amid escalating pressure within his Labour Party on Monday has disrupted these plans, with an anonymous EU official suggesting that it is highly probable the summit will be delayed.
Another EU source urged caution, indicating it is «premature» to speculate on forthcoming developments as they will depend on «domestic UK affairs».
Addressing the public from a podium outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, Starmer outlined a schedule for his exit aimed at installing a new Prime Minister by September at the latest.
Recent events suggest that Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and the likely successor to Starmer, may take office as early as mid-July without opposition.
Wes Streeting, who resigned as health minister in May and was anticipated to contend for the premiership, declared his support for Burnham on Monday, making a single-candidate race highly probable.
This development implies that Burnham, a figure largely unfamiliar to EU officials and diplomats, could be appointed as early as July 17, five days before the planned summit.
Reset in doubt
Starmer secured a decisive victory in the July 2024 UK General Election with a manifesto promising to move beyond years of discord and restore strained relations with the EU.
Nonetheless, his government set clear boundaries by refusing to join the EU Single Market or Customs Union, which means the complex trading relationship would need to be repaired through a series of targeted agreements.
During an interview with Euronews last Tuesday, UK Minister for EU Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds, leading the negotiations for London, expressed confidence that both sides would finalize several new accords by the July 22 summit.
However, Starmer’s position weakened significantly after Andy Burnham won decisively in the Makerfield by-election last Thursday, securing a seat in the House of Commons and paving the way for a leadership challenge.
Although Burnham has recently pledged not to revisit the Brexit debate, he also stated last September a desire for the UK to rejoin the EU within his lifetime.
While Burnham’s stance toward EU-UK relations remains uncertain, he is widely expected to uphold Starmer’s approach of seeking closer ties without reversing the referendum decision made by the UK electorate precisely ten years ago.