Archive: https://archive.is/2025.03.20-190214/https://www.ft.com/content/5bc7c761-e6c7-4459-892c-fb72c54212d1

Relations were dented earlier this week when the European Commission revealed it would exclude British arms companies from a new €150bn defence spending fund until London and Brussels agreed a fresh security pact.

Asked about the move, Starmer said he was “really pleased that the EU has brought together such a successful package”, saying Britain wanted to play a full part in boosting Europe’s collective self defence.

He said he was speaking to Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, “pretty well all the time” and was looking for ways to “take this forward together”. Starmer wants to negotiate a security pact with the EU as part of his wider “reset” of post Brexit relations.

EU officials have sought to downplay the UK’s exemption from the initiative and stress their desire to swiftly sign a deal with London that would allow British companies to take part, in a bid to rectify the irritation at Brussels’ Wednesday announcement.

“There is good momentum with the Brits on defence and we want to keep that moving,” said one of the EU officials, adding that bilateral discussions with senior UK counterparts had taken place since the publication of the terms.