Keir Starmer's efforts to reset the UK's relationship with the European Union are languishing, lacking 'direction, definition and drive', according to a highly critical report from the House of Commons foreign affairs committee.
The cross-party committee found that while last May's UK-EU summit at Lancaster House 'substantially improved the overall political relationship' after years of Conservative government tensions, the government has failed to set clear strategic priorities, leaving the impression that the EU is achieving more concrete progress on its demands.
Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP chairing the committee, said the reset felt like 'a journey with no clear destination'. The report criticised the lack of timelines, milestones or priorities, and warned that without a structured vision, the government would repeat its mistakes in the second round of negotiations due after a bilateral summit in early July.
Progress so far has been limited to a deal on the Erasmus student programme, with key areas such as chemicals regulation, mutual recognition of qualifications and touring musicians' concessions still off the table. The EU has also added new demands, including a financial contribution to lower-income member states – not mentioned at the summit – and an 'exorbitant' €2bn (£1.7bn) price for UK participation in the new Security Action for Europe defence initiative.
The report welcomed the UK-EU security and defence partnership but urged both sides to go further and faster. It also criticised the deliberate secrecy surrounding talks and called for the government to set out its plans in a white paper. Despite setbacks, the committee urged ambition: 'Fortune favours the bold and showing ambition now will reap rewards later.'
