PM to highlight security at European summit

The prime minister is to tell leaders at a European summit, that border security will be at the centre of the new government's reset with Europe.

At the meeting of the European Political Community Sir Keir Starmer will say that he believes the magnitude of compounding challenges facing Europe cannot be solved alone, and that countries must work collectively to deliver solutions that rebalance the equation.   

This will begin with the UK taking a more active and greater convening role on the world stage, to strike genuine partnerships that have impact on people’s lives.

He will also say that the UK’s reset on the global stage will be rooted in upholding democratic values and international law and ensuring the economic and financial security of working people.   

There will be a pledge to help lead the Europe-wide effort to combat organised immigration crime, and the people smuggling gangs in co-operation with Europol, Frontex, and individual member states as well as the redeployment of more than 100 Home Office staff from the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) to a new rapid returns unit.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer 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 speech comes after a Border Security Bill was announced in the King's Speech which will give the new Border Security Command counter terrorism-style powers to disrupt organised immigration crime and ensure smugglers can be prosecuted for preparatory offences such as supplying materials to facilitate organised immigration crime.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Dangerous small boat crossings are undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. Criminal smuggling gangs are making millions out of small boat crossings [Please note political content redacted here].

"We will work right across Europe to tackle this problem at source, going after those profiting from this awful trade and bringing them to justice.  

"The new Border Security Command will be a major step change in UK enforcement efforts to tackle organised immigration crime, drawing on substantial resource to work across Europe and beyond to disrupt trafficking networks and deliver justice."