Sir Keir Starmer will draw on the diplomatic might of the King, as he launches a major effort to kickstart his Brexit “reset” and tackle irregular migration.
The Prime Minister is viewing Thursday’s European Political Community (EPC) summit of EU and non-EU leaders as a key moment in his bid to reset relations with the bloc to boost trade and security.
Charles offered to host a reception for leaders attending the gathering at Blenheim Palace in a move welcomed by Sir Keir, with the monarch’s presence a sign of the importance the Government is placing on the event.
It is understood that the Francophile King is seen as someone who has done a great deal to boost relations with Europe, and has close ties with the continent which can therefore help push the UK’s agenda with key leaders.
The major focus of the summit is not post-Brexit relations, with leaders instead expected to discuss migration, defending democracy, energy security and the Ukraine conflict, with Volodymyr Zelensky expected to attend.
But also attending are Foreign Secretary David Lammy and EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, who will fan out across the gathering to discuss Brexit and other issues in bilateral meetings, while the informal nature of the gathering could also allow Starmer to raise the issue.
Starmer himself is also hosting a number of bilaterals with key European leaders, hosting Irish premier Simon Harris on Wednesday night.
The Prime Minister will also hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish prime minister Donald Tusk during the summit.
i understands Sir Keir’s major aim in the summit-proper will be to boost border security by dismantling European smuggling rings to tackle the Channel small boats crisis.
He will announce the redeployment of more than 100 Home Office staff from the now-ditched Rwanda deportation plan to a new rapid returns unit to remove failed asylum seekers from the UK.
The Prime Minister will also pledge to help lead the Europe-wide effort to combat organised immigration crime and people smugglers, in cooperation with EU law enforcement agency Europol and border agency Frontex, as well as individual member states.
He will personally attend the summit’s working group on migration, with allies including Italy, the Netherlands, France, Albania and the European Commission looking to build on the eight-point plan they thrashed out with Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni last year
Ahead of the gathering, Sir Keir 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.
“My Government was elected with a mandate for change.
“I asked the British people to judge me by my actions, not words. This meeting of European leaders is an opportunity to push on and begin delivering on the people’s priorities.
“We will only be able to secure our borders, drive economic growth and defend our democracies if we work together.”
The EPC is the only pan European meeting of leaders, including the heads of the EU institutions, and for the first time at this EPC the leaders of Nato, the Council of Europe and the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe).
The only European governments not invited are Russia and Belarus.