The UK is ready to work with European countries to deliver solutions to mutual challenges that cannot be solved alone, such as immigration, democracy and energy security, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will tell world leaders at the European Political Community (EPC) summit on Thursday.
Mr Starmer will say the UK is taking a more active and greater convening role on the world stage, to strike genuine partnerships that affect people’s lives.
He will add that the UK’s reset on the global stage will be rooted in upholding democratic values and international law, and ensuring the economic and financial security of working people.
The 'Jungle' migrant camp in Calais - in pictures
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A Banksy mural at the entrance to the 'Jungle' migrant camp in Calais, France, fades as nature reclaims the area in 2018, two years after more than 1,000 migrants were evicted. All photos: Getty Images -
Sand dunes at the former site of Calais 'Jungle' migrant camp, which is now a nature reserve -
The last remaining migrants at the camp wait for transport outside the site in October 2016 -
Bedding and food left inside a shack in the nearly deserted camp in 2016 -
French police clearing the main entrance to the camp -
Contractors clearing the site -
Police stop a migrant from returning -
Volunteers and migrants tackle a blaze in the camp during the demolition -
A gas canister explodes in the camp as fires rage in October 2016 -
Sudanese migrants queue in the cold weather for buses to leave the camp -
Migrants return a smoke grenade as they clash with French riot police in October 2016 -
French business owners and locals blockade the main road into the Port of Calais, demanding the removal of the 'Jungle' camp in September 2016 -
Migrant children watch a movie inside the Jungle Books Cafe in the camp -
Migrants from Afghanistan play cricket on a makeshift wicket in May 2016 -
A migrant walks alongside a fence separating new accommodation from the jungle camp in February 2016 -
A hut burns as police officers clear part of the camp in February 2016 -
Actors from Shakespeare's Globe perform Hamlet to migrants at the Good Chance Theatre Tent in the camp in February 2016 -
An Iranian man peers out from his shelter in the camp in January 2016 -
A boy looks out from a camper van as migrants contend with cold weather in December 2015 -
A view of the camp in June 2015
The Prime Minister will announce the redeployment of more than 100 Home Office staff from the Migration and Economic Development Partnership to a new rapid returns unit to take control of the UK's borders.
Mr Starmer is also pledging to help lead the Europe-wide effort to combat organised immigration crime and the people-smuggling gangs trading in human lives, in co-operation with Europol, Frontex and member countries.
“We cannot let the challenges of the recent past define our relationships of the future," Mr Starmer said ahead of the summit.
"That is why European security will be at the forefront of this government’s foreign and defence priorities, and why I am focused on seizing this moment to renew our relationship with Europe.
“The EPC will fire the starting gun on this government’s new approach to Europe, one that will not just benefit us now, but for generations to come, from dismantling the people smuggling webs trafficking people across Europe, to standing up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s barbaric actions in Ukraine and destabilising activity across Europe.
"We will only be able to secure our borders, drive economic growth and defend our democracies if we work together," he added.
The UK government plans to accelerate asylum decisions and the new fast-tracked system in the returns and enforcement unit will prioritise those who have no right to be in the UK and the greatest chance of being sent back to where they came from.
Mr Starmer's announcement comes after the government announced a Border Security Bill in the King’s Speech to tackle the criminal smuggling gangs, delivering on a key manifesto pledge.
The bill will give the new Border Security Command counter terrorism-style powers to disrupt organised immigration crime and ensure smugglers can be prosecuted for preparatory offences, such as supplying materials to enable organised immigration crime.
The new law will include strengthening powers for enforcement officers to investigate involvement in organised immigration crime.
The Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has recently delivered a 50 per cent increase in NCA officers to be based in Europol, as the government plans to deepen its partnerships with Europol and its European Migrant Smuggling Centre.
“Dangerous small boat crossings are undermining our border security and putting lives at risk," said ahead of the summit.
"Criminal smuggling gangs are making millions out of small boat crossings and the Tories left us with gimmick rather than grip.
“We will work right across Europe to tackle this problem at source, going after those profiting from this awful trade and bringing them to justice," Ms Cooper said.
“The new Border Security Command will be a major step change in UK enforcement efforts to tackle organised immigration crime, drawing on substantial resource to work across Europe and beyond to disrupt trafficking networks and deliver justice.
“At the same time, work is under way to transform the UK’s asylum system and accelerate decision-making, with a new returns and enforcement unit being set up in the Home Office to fast-track the removal of those with no right to be in the UK," she added.
The EPC is the only pan-European meeting of leaders, including the heads of the EU institutions, and for the first time at this EPC the leaders of Nato, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The only European governments not invited are Russia and Belarus.
As well as focusing on the shared challenge of migration, the EPC will also convene leaders to discuss defending democracy and energy security through three working groups.
Mr Starmer will attend the migration working group, alongside Italy, Albania, Germany, Malta, Denmark, Hungary, the Netherlands and Slovakia.
