Keir Starmer resigns: July UK-EU summit under review

The European Union reassesses July UK summit after Starmer's resignation announcement.

The EU Bloc is reconsidering whether to proceed with its planned July 22 summit with the UK following Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation announcement.

Moreover, Brussels officials said discussions are underway with UK counterparts and António Costa to determine whether the meeting remains appropriate amid the UK's impending leadership transition.

Despite the uncertainty, EU officials stressed that relations with the UK remain strong. Ursula von der Leyen praised Starmer's leadership and his contributions to European and Ukrainian security during his time in office.

"Our relations with the UK are and will remain strong," a European Commission spokesperson said on Monday.

"On the question of the EU-UK summit, against the announcement this morning of the resignation of Prime Minister Starmer, we are reassessing with (European Council) President Costa and the UK ‌the opportunity of still holding the summit as had been announced last week," the spokesperson added.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier praised Starmer.

"It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years," she said in a post on X. "European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you."

The summit had been scheduled as part of efforts to deepen post-Brexit cooperation on trade, security, energy, and economic issues, and was viewed as a key step in the UK's ongoing "reset" of relations with the EU but has faced many delays.

The latest update from EU comes as UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he would step down as Labour leader and prime minister after mounting pressure within his party.

However he is expected to remain in office until a successor is chosen, with a new Labour leader potentially in place by September—or earlier if there is an uncontested transition.