UK should increase ties with EU following Trump’s re-election, Starmer advised | EUROtoday

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The prime minister is being urged to bolster the UK’s relationship with the European Union following Donald Trump’s re-election, as a senior EU official argues there’s a “big opportunity” for nearer ties.

Sandro Gozi, the brand new chair of the European delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, advised The Independent the bloc is trying to put tutorial cooperation, a youth free-movement deal and conversations about synthetic intelligence on the desk.

Mr Gozi’s intervention comes as politicians within the UK say the results of the US election ought to be a “wake-up call” for Sir Keir Starmer after Mr Trump swept to victory on 5 November.

Mr Gozi mentioned the difficulty of safety and defence in Europe is “even more compelling” because the Republican politician’s re-election, amid rising issues over the president-elect’s dedication to Nato and fears of a world commerce battle.

He added: “We know that we have a clear common interest in working together more and better on our security. I hope the election of Mr Trump will boost the cooperation between the UK on the security and military dimension.”

Mr Trump has been vocal in his criticisms of Nato, accusing European members of counting on US funding and warning his administration would solely come to the help of its allies in the event that they contribute financially.

“I don’t see why we have a technology dialogue with the US and with India but we don’t have a dialogue with UK,” Mr Gozi mentioned. “These could be new areas of cooperation in the common interest.”

There have been renewed requires nearer ties with the EU coming from inside the UK because the US election, with former Conservative deputy chief Michael Heseltine telling The Independent: “The quicker we restore our position at the heart of Europe the better – from our point of view, from Europe’s point of view and from the world’s point of view.”

While he acknowledged that the US has “done a great deal to preserve the stability of the Western world”, Lord Heseltine – who can be president of the European Movement, a pro-EU marketing campaign group – warned: “We must always remember that there is an element of American politics called ‘America First’, which is having a significant exposure at the moment.”

“America First” was a time period coined by president Woodrow Wilson in his 1916 marketing campaign, which pledged to maintain America impartial within the First World War.

Referencing the coverage, he mentioned: “It is unreasonable for Europe to automatically rely on America, however benign their support has been over the last three-quarters of a century.”

Liberal Democrat dwelling affairs spokesperson Calum Miller advised The Independent the results of the US election ought to be a “wake-up call for the UK”.

“It is imperative that we strengthen trade and defence links with our European allies. Now more than ever, it is vital that we repair our broken relationship with the EU,” the MP for Bicester and Woodstock added.

Meanwhile, Wera Hobhouse, the Lib Dem MP for Bath, mentioned she hopes the federal government will “come clean on its promise to renew meaningful cooperation with the EU”.

Mr Gozi mentioned the will for nearer ties because the election is “not one-sided”, including that the EU additionally sees the present scenario as a “big opportunity to kick off a new partnership”.

“We also think that there is an interest in strengthening our relationship with the UK,” he mentioned.

Pointing to the EU-UK summit, introduced by Sir Keir earlier this yr as a part of a broader “reset” of relations with the bloc, Mr Gozi mentioned: “It is a meeting that can act as a booster to our relationship.”

There is rising concern a few doable commerce battle with the US, after the Trump marketing campaign pledged to impose levies of 10 per cent on all items imported from US buying and selling companions, and as much as 60 per cent and 100 per cent for China and Mexico.

Kim Darroch, a former UK ambassador to Washington, mentioned there can be a “stark choice” for Britain between siding with the EU or sacrificing our agriculture.

Writing in The ObserverMr Darroch mentioned: “On tariffs, I expect the exact opposite of a mere threat.

“I think Trump will impose tariffs on all US imports immediately and say, ‘If you want them lifted, offer me something to rebalance trade.’

“The EU will almost certainly retaliate and the UK will face a difficult decision. Do we match EU retaliatory tariffs? Or do we seek a bilateral deal, like a free trade agreement?”

Shadow international secretary Priti Patel, nonetheless, claimed president-elect Mr Trump is “very sympathetic” to the UK.

Speaking to Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, she added: “He has familial ties with this country. My party had a very strong working relationship with him previously.

“I want us to grow that, strengthen that, and demonstrate that the West is not vacating the pitch when it comes to security issues, economic issues, but importantly… the defence of our freedoms.”

The authorities declined to remark.