The UK intends to accelerate and be more ambitious in fostering closer ties with Europe under Andy Burnham's government, according to Hamish Falconer, the new cabinet minister overseeing EU reset talks. Mr Falconer stated there is "room to be ambitious" within Labour's established red lines, which do not include revisiting the single market and customs union.
Mr Falconer, who is the new chief post-Brexit negotiator, expressed a desire for a "deeper relationship, a more ambitious relationship with the EU." He identified greater cooperation on services as a significant area for progress, potentially encompassing visa-free travel for British individuals working in the EU and mutual recognition of qualifications.
The long-awaited reset summit, initially planned for July, was postponed following Keir Starmer's resignation as prime minister in June. While Mr Falconer seeks a "sense of renewed pace" in the discussions, a new summit date has not yet been set. It is believed the next summit may not occur until October.
Resolving the terms of a youth mobility deal, which would allow tens of thousands of European and British young people to live and work in each other's territories, is a key priority. Talks on this issue have been deadlocked due to the UK's reluctance to permit EU students to pay lower fees charged to UK students.