Government spokesperson said the U.K. has "no plans" to rejoin European program ..read more

Britain's new leader heads to Berlin and Paris to talk up a fresh pact with Germany — and closer ties with Europe ..read more

The EU’s new border system has raised fears of queues and delays for British travelers to Europe ..read more

A diminishing number of grassroots U.K. musicians are performing at the continent’s festivals ..read more

But it will take more than a serenade to woo Paris ..read more

BLENHEIM PALACE, Oxfordshire — One is a rising star. The other’s star is falling. But Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron reckon a lot can be achieved during their time left together.  The new U.K. prime minister impressed the French president as he hosted the European Political Community summit in the historic Blenheim Palace in rural England this week. The grouping was the brainchild of Macron, who oversaw its first meeting in Prague in 2022. He designed the gathering as an informal platform to discuss shared concerns without the need for black and white deals or statements at the end: a k ..read more

LONDON — Keir Starmer wants to reset Britain’s relationship with Europe. Thanks to his Tory predecessors, he has the perfect opportunity. On Thursday — less than a fortnight into the new job — Britain’s new prime minister will host more than 40 of the continent’s leaders at a European Political Community (EPC) summit at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. The timing, so soon after the U.K. election, is something most new leaders could only dream of — but the summit is not part of a Starmer masterplan to ingratiate himself with Europe’s elite. It was his Tory predecessor Liz Truss who volunteered to ..read more

WASHINGTON — A security pact between Britain and the European Union would be “complementary” to NATO, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said at a meeting of the alliance. Speaking ahead of a summit marking 75 years of NATO in Washington, the U.K.’s new prime minister told reporters the plan for closer ties with Brussels on defense and security was “really important to us.” “I do think there is scope for a significant improving of our defense and security relationship with the EU,” he said. “I think this is complementary with NATO. NATO is still the cornerstone of defense in Europe and our approa ..read more

LONDON — The European Union is “absolutely” open to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan for an overhaul of the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit trading relationship, Ireland’s premier has said. Simon Harris said the EU would give a “fair hearing” to “any proposal that the British government has.” Labour, which won a historic majority in Thursday’s U.K. general election, has said it wants to negotiate a veterinary agreement with the bloc in a bid to smooth trade and reduce border friction for businesses, among other changes to the Brexit settlement. The Taoiseach said Ireland “will always be an ally ..read more

LONDON — Labour could play it safe with Brussels on financial services. Or it could stir up treason. Labour’s wannabe finance minister Rachel Reeves, set to take over the helm of the Treasury on July 4 if polls are correct, has made it clear she wants to improve the trading relationship with the EU. But Brussels won’t let that happen immediately. So Reeves will have a choice: be patient and put the hours in to get the bloc on side. Or, take the nuclear option: revive Brexit’s infamous “cherry picking” approach and plump for some side deals with Britain-friendly countries. To date, Brussels has ..read more