On 18 July, not quite two weeks after becoming Prime Minister, Keir Starmer will host nearly 50 national leaders at the European Political Community (EPC) summit at Blenheim.
The EPC agenda was worked out before Labour’s landslide victory, and Starmer has agreed to accept and work with it. But, that does not preclude changes that demonstrate the government’s determination to reset its relationship with the EU and its member states, particularly in defence and foreign policy.
One decisive change would be the launch of an EPC defence group comprising France, Germany, Poland and the UK. Leaders of the four countries could hold a meeting in the margins at Blenheim and form a group to strengthen Europe’s contribution to NATO, support Ukraine, and consult together, and with others, on threats to international peace and security in the EPC area.