António Costa, the President of the EU Council, stated at a press conference in Brussels that "there is a need to postpone the summit" and that "new dates are being considered." He expressed hope that Starmer's successor would continue to foster positive relations between the UK and the EU.
The UK and the EU had planned to hold their second summit on July 22 in Brussels. The agenda included discussions on improving post-Brexit relations, cooperation on food and animal health standards, youth exchanges, and linking carbon trading systems.
Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer had been working to improve relations with the EU. However, with his resignation, the timing of the summit and any agreements may be postponed until after a new Prime Minister is elected.
Starmer will remain in office until his successor is chosen. The Labour Party's National Executive Committee is set to begin the candidate nomination process on July 9. If a single candidate emerges, a new leader could be confirmed by mid-July; if multiple candidates compete, the selection process may continue until before Parliament reconvenes on September 1.
Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Manchester, is a leading candidate to succeed Starmer. After recently being elected to Parliament, he announced his intention to run for the leadership. While he is generally seen as pro-EU, he has taken a cautious stance on the issue of the UK's rejoining the EU.
The decision to reevaluate the summit comes just one day before the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum. On June 23, 2016, the UK voted to leave the EU, officially departing in January 2020. Recent polls indicate that 75% of UK voters desire a closer relationship with the EU, and 57% believe that leaving the EU was a mistake.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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