The foreign secretary, David Lammy has stated that Labour wants a broad joint declaration with the EU in order to introduce a comprehensive security pact, covering defence, energy and pandemics, as well as the climate crisis.
Lammy said that as part of the plan for the new government to reset its relationship with the EU, and “announce the end of the Brexit era”, a broadly defined deal on security would not undermine Labour’s commitment to stay outside the EU’s single market and Customs Union.
Under Labor plans the UK would work more closely together with the EU on a number of security-related areas, without needing a legally binding agreement, which could take many years to agree.
Lammy also accepted the invitation of Josep Borrell to attend the October meeting the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which was previously rejected by the Conservative government.
Labour believes it might be possible for non-EU countries to attend on an irregular basis, if the security pact is developed.
Lammy, during his first visit to Europe in his capacity as Foreign Secretary, said: “We have talked to Europe for years about an ambitious security pact. I believe there is a desire, especially after the war in Ukraine, to look beyond defence.
“So, you must obviously engage in discussions with Europe to find these issues of mutual benefit. Once the new European leadership has been installed, I hope that we can move forward with some sort of joint declaration. “Under that bucket would be work streams.”
Labour has said that it is against a legally-binding joint document. This could take years to negotiate and also conflict with the separate work to review the UK-EU Trade Cooperation Agreement. The negotiation may continue until 2026, but is unlikely to start until there is a new EU Commission.
Labour’s idea for a security pact would be to establish something like the EU-US Technology Council, which has several subcommittees and hosts an annual summit. The UK is among the few partners that the EU does not hold an annual summit with.
Lammy replied: “Yes. It could.”
He continued: “We need to work with our European partners, especially on minerals that are critical. After the pandemic, our capabilities in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and higher education are well known. There, I believe we are discussing things that Europe would like to discuss with us.
“I have said that I am very keen to get us to a point where we’ve had a structured dialogue with EU. I hope that we can reach that.”
Lammy, who won the Labour Party’s election by a wide margin on Thursday, embarked upon a trip that took him to Poland, Germany, and Sweden, where he met with his counterparts.
He said, “I am serious about a new start. In Poland and Germany, I could sense their excitement at the prospect of a new [UK] Government. We have made it clear that our focus is on the future. There are a number of issues we need to coordinate, but they all come down to negotiation and discussion. “But I’ve already set the course of action.”
Lammy raised the broad issue with Radoslaw Sikorski (Polish Foreign Minister), who stated that they discussed “some innovative ideas” for future cooperation.
The EU will be presided over by Poland next year. It is likely that Poland will play a major role in convincing other EU countries that the UK does not seek a backdoor to access the single market, without accepting its responsibilities.
The French president Emmanuel Macron has always pushed for greater defense cooperation with Nato within the EU. However, Anglo-French bilateral defence cooperation is currently in flux as Macron struggles for his political survival.
Lammy refused to say whether he’d revive plans for an EU-wide youth mobility program. The previous government as well as Labour rejected EU plans that would have made it easier for young people aged 18-30 to work and study abroad in the EU and UK. The scheme would allow UK participants to only stay in the first EU member state that accepts them.
He said that the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Bärbock, raised the issue of school visitation with him.
There’s a lot of concern, for instance, in Germany about the decline in meeting our young people. This can lead to a generation that has no real contact. She was herself a student at LSE. “I hope we can solve the school visits problem, but mobility is a broader issue that raises more complex issues.”
He said that Labour was clear in its position that it would not return to the system of free labour movement. He acknowledged that the European Commission’s proposals had problems, but said: “In spirit of openness I am happy to listen to what they have to offer.”
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