Sir Keir Starmer said he intends to “reset our relationship with Europe” as he hosted leaders from across the continent at a major summit.
The Prime Minister is using the European Political Community (EPC) gathering, taking place today, to push for closer security ties and joint action to tackle illegal migration.
The summit at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire comes as the new Labour Government attempts to forge closer links with the European Union (EU) after the turmoil of the Brexit years.
Sir Keir said: “European security is at the forefront of my Government’s foreign and defence priorities.
“We will only be able to secure our borders, drive economic growth and defend our democracies if we work together.
“It’s time to reset our relationship with Europe.”
READ MORE: European leaders arrive in Oxfordshire for summit
Sir Keir personally greeted leaders as they arrived at the 18th century palace.
As part of the drive to tackle illegal migration the Government has redeployed more than 100 Home Office staff from working on the now-scrapped Rwanda scheme to focus on a “rapid returns unit” to send people with no right to be in the UK back to their home country.
The Prime Minister called for continent-wide action to tackle the international “people-smuggling webs”.
He will join a session on migration co-chaired by Italy’s right-wing leader Giorgia Meloni at the EPC summit, which brings together EU and non-EU countries.
The Labour Government is seeking a security pact with the EU and Sir Keir is also determined to cement European nations’ support for Ukraine in its war with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
The Prime Minister said: “We cannot let the challenges of the recent past define our relationships of the future.
“That is why European security will be at the forefront of this Government’s foreign and defence priorities, and why I am focused on seizing this moment to renew our relationship with Europe.
“The EPC will fire the starting gun on this Government’s new approach to Europe, one that will not just benefit us now, but for generations to come, from dismantling the people-smuggling webs trafficking people across Europe, to standing up to Putin’s barbaric actions in Ukraine and destabilising activity across Europe."
Under the Government’s plans to respond to the small boats crisis, asylum decisions will be accelerated and, under a new fast-tracked system in the returns and enforcement unit, officials will prioritise those with no right to be in the UK and who have the greatest chance of being returned.
A new Border Security Command will use counter-terror powers to fight organised immigration crime, working “across Europe and beyond”, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said.
“Dangerous small boat crossings are undermining our border security and putting lives at risk,” she said.
“Criminal smuggling gangs are making millions out of small boat crossings and the Tories left us with gimmick rather than grip.
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“We will work right across Europe to tackle this problem at source, going after those profiting from this awful trade and bringing them to justice.”
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