LONDON, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom (UK) is hoping that improved relations with European partners will help it more effectively tackle illegal migration as the country hosted some 50 European leaders for the fourth meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) on Thursday.
At a post-summit press conference at the Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that addressing critical issues such as illegal migration and national security requires "maturity and leadership."
Starmer underscored his government's commitment to practical solutions aligned with international law, contrasting with previous Conservative approaches such as the "Rwanda Scheme," which were discontinued upon taking office.
Starmer, who led the Labour Party to a landslide victory in the recent general election, cautioned that "there is no easy silver bullet" to solving illegal migration. His government has expressed hopes for a "reset" in the relations with European partners strained by Brexit.
"We are going to work with our European partners to share intelligence, data, expertise, and put the gangs out of business," Starmer said, adding that "to stop illegal migration, we must also tackle it at source."
Earlier in the day, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the UK is "nowhere near" renegotiating a trade deal with the EU and reiterated that the country would not re-enter the EU single market or customs union.
The brainchild of French President Emmanuel Macron, the EPC serves as a platform for dialogue and cooperation between the EU and countries in its neighborhood to address issues of common interest.
The EPC held its inaugural meeting in Prague, the Czech Republic, in October 2022, followed by a second meeting in Moldova in June and a third in Spain in October last year. The fifth EPC will be held in Hungary in November this year.
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