dpa
London
New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged European leaders to address the illegal migration “crisis” and to stand firm in support of Ukraine as he sought to strengthen the UK’s ties with the continent.
Starmer hopes the European Political Community (EPC) summit will provide an opportunity to “reset” the UK’s relations with its neighbours after the turmoil of the Brexit years.
Opening the summit at Blenheim Palace to the north-west of Oxford he also stressed his government’s support for the European Convention on Human Rights after the now opposition Conservative Party had flirted with the idea of pulling out of the agreement.
Starmer told Europe’s leaders the UK would be a “friend and a partner ready to work” with them and “not part of the European Union, but very much part of Europe.” With his government inheriting the challenge of small boats crossing the English Channel and Europe as a whole addressing the issue of migrants crossing the Mediterranean and land borders, Starmer said the leaders had to tackle people smugglers.
“It is now I think a crisis,” he said. “As we speak, as we gather here, a criminal empire is at work in every country represented here today, profiting off human misery and desperation, prepared to send infants, babies, pregnant mothers, innocent people to their deaths.
“And last week four more souls, and actually last night another one, were lost in the waters of the English Channel - a chilling reminder of the human cost of this vile trade.”
Starmer, flanked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the first task of the EPC summit is to “confirm our steadfast support for Ukraine.” “Every day Ukraine fights affects not just the Ukrainian people, but the European people,” he said.
“A continent where our belief in freedom, democracy and the rule of law was hard won and that wants to live in peace.”
