Keir Starmer is joining European leaders in Hungary today as the continent starts to deal with Donald Trump‘s return to the US presidency.
The Prime Minister is in Budapest for a European Political Community meeting to discuss support for Ukraine, migration, economic security and waning EU competitiveness.
But the meeting is likely to be overshadowed by Trumps’ election win that puts him in the White House for a second four-year term.
European leaders have broadly congratulated Trump but now face greater uncertainty over US backing for Ukraine against Russia‘s invasion, its support for the NATO military alliance and the prospect of tariffs on their exports to the United States.
Sir Keir has also suffered a blow to his hopes of achieving Europe-wide consensus on illegal immigration, after the German coalition collapses, paving the way for an election.
Chancellor Olaf Scholtz has been one of his closest allies on the issue, but now faces a battle to hold on to power after sacking is finance minister, triggering a vote.
Some officials also nervous about the summit plans of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been criticised by European Union peers over his trips to Moscow and Georgia during his country’s EU presidency, and said that he would pop champagne corks if Trump won.
The Prime Minister is in Budapest for a European Political Community meeting to discuss support for Ukraine, migration, economic security and waning EU competitiveness.
But the meeting is likely to be overshadowed by Trumps’ election win that puts him in the White House for a second four-year term.
Sir Keir has also suffered a blow to his hopes of achieving Europe-wide consensus on illegal immigration, after the German coalition collapses, paving the way for an election. Chancellor Olaf Scholtz has been one of his closest allies on the issue, but now faces a battle to hold on to power after sacking is finance minister, triggering a vote.
Some officials also nervous about the summit plans of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (pictured in 2019), who has been criticised by European Union peers over his trips to Moscow and Georgia during his country’s EU presidency, and said that he would pop champagne corks if Trump won.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by Mr Orban this morning
The Prime Minister will sign new agreements to intercept criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the Western Balkans as part of efforts to bring down small boat crossings.
Sir Keir Starmer will announce the deals to boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo
He is expected to urge European partners to take action to reduce deaths in the Channel during small boat crossings and tell them that lawful, international co-operation will be key to efforts.
The Western Balkans is a key route used by migrants who end up in the EU or UK illegally. Almost 100,000 migrants travelled by that route last year.
The deals will boost intelligence sharing and co-operation to intercept the criminal gangs as they smuggle people through these countries. The aim is to arrest the gangs and break their business models at source.
The UK already works with Albania to target the illicit financial flows that underpin smuggling gang operations.
Ahead of the meeting Sir Keir said: ‘There is a criminal empire operating on our continent, exacting a horrendous human toll and undermining our national security.
‘Backed by our new Border Security Command, the UK will be at the heart of the efforts to end the scourge of organised immigration crime – but we cannot do it in isolation.
‘We need to go further and faster, alongside our international partners, and take the fight directly to the heart of these vile people smuggling networks. I will be making this the central feature of my discussions at the European Political Community meeting today.’
In the evening the EU’s 27 leaders will weigh transatlantic relations, as well as Georgia, where the ruling Georgian Dream party, seen as increasingly pro-Russian, claimed victory in a disputed October 26 election.
The collapse of Scholz’s three-way alliance caps months of wrangling over budget policy and Germany’s economic direction, with the government’s popularity sinking and far-right and far-left forces surging.
‘We need a government that is able to act, that has the strength to make the necessary decisions for our country,’ Scholz told reporters.
The government crisis comes at a critical juncture for Germany, with a flatlining economy, aging infrastructure and an unprepared military.
A political shake-up could fuel growing frustration with Germany’s mainstream parties to the benefit of younger populist movements, including the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD).
With France also facing political uncertainty after snap elections this year, turmoil in the European Union’s two largest economies could hamper efforts to deepen the bloc’s integration at a time when it is facing challenges from east and west.