Starmer: Britain can improve trade relations with the EU

2024-07-08 21:40:49, Kosova & Bota CNA

Starmer: Britain can improve trade relations with the EU

British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer. Source, AFP

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed on Monday to secure an improved deal with the European Union on trade rules after leaving the European bloc. He said he would renew the "flawed deal" signed by former prime minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Starmer made the announcement during a visit to Belfast after talks with Northern Ireland leaders, where post-Brexit trade rules have dominated politics for years. Prime Minister Starmer said his government would first have to implement changes under the current deal to improve relations with the European Union.

"We can secure a better deal than the failed deal that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed and we will work towards that," Prime Minister Starmer, who secured a landslide victory in last week's general election, told reporters. passed.

"We, however, will not be able to have a better relationship unless we demonstrate commitment to the relationships and agreements that have already been reached," he added.

Labor has ruled out rejoining the EU's single market or customs union, but has said it is possible to remove some trade barriers with the 27-nation bloc, which Britain left in 2020.

Northern Ireland's largest pro-British party ended its boycott of the assembly after changes to trade rules secured by former prime minister Rishi Sunak in February. That party, however, has since called for more changes.

Asked about the possibility of holding a referendum on Irish unification after Irish nationalist Sinn Fein became the largest Northern Irish party in the British parliament, Prime Minister Starmer said he would "act in accordance with the Agreement of Good Friday," the 1998 peace accord that ended three decades of sectarian violence.

Under the agreement, the decision to hold a referendum rests with the British government if the minister for Northern Ireland "seems likely" that a majority would favor cutting ties with London.

Prime Minister Starmer, who visited Edinburgh on Sunday, will continue a post-election tour of the UK's four countries with a visit to Cardiff on Monday evening./ VOA