Recently, British Prime Minister Johnson has discussed the possibility of bringing Britain back into the European Union. In a report dated May 26th, POLITICO EU reported that although Johnson is committed to establishing closer relations between Britain and the European Union, so far, no one seems grateful for this decision.
Reports indicate that the EU is adopting a playful approach, while British lawmakers accuse their government of using vague rhetoric. Its even possible that Sturmer might have lost his position as Prime Minister before even the EU-British summit took place.
According to the original plan, the UK and the EU will hold a summit this summer. The UK is prepared to sign more agreements that align with EU rules, hoping to inject new vitality into its struggling economy. Although Sturmer has been actively promoting this summit over the past six months, the exact date for the summit remains undecided.
On May 4, 2026, in Yerevan, Armenia, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the European Political Community summit. IC Photo
After suffering a devastating defeat in local elections earlier this month, British Prime Minister Theresa May, as the leader of the ruling party, is eager to calm down the calls within her party for her to step down from power.
However, those who challenge the Labour Party have already started to make moves against him. Among them are Andy Burnham, the popular mayor of Greater Manchester, and the ambitious former Health Secretary, Wes Streeting.
Although it is widely reported that this EU-Britain summit is tentatively scheduled for late June or early July this year, the political time bomb hidden beneath the ground at Downing Street is making the future relationship between Britain and Europe even more complicated.
Several British officials who declined to disclose their names denied reports that the summit might be postponed, stating that the schedule has not changed.
One of the officials said, It is indeed difficult to coordinate the schedules of leaders from various countries and determine a specific date. He added that the scheduling teams in London and Brussels are currently engaged in a back-and-forth process over different possible dates.
However, as the hot months of May pass by quickly, June is approaching. The fact that the date for the summit has yet to be determined has sparked speculation from the outside world. It also raises questions about the actual progress in resetting relations between Britain and Europe.
Charles Grant, director of the British think tank Center for European Reform, said, Just a few weeks ago, I was told that this summit would definitely take place in late June. But now it seems that this is no longer the case.
He speculated that the reason for the delay of the summit might be due to obstacles encountered by both parties in finalizing those negotiation topics that still hadnt been resolved. According to the original plan, these topics were supposed to be agreed upon before the summit was held.
However, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the British Secretary of State responsible for relations with the European Union, stated last month that the current negotiations are progressing as planned. In fact, some topics have even seen progress beyond expectations.
A person in Brussels who closely monitored the preparations for the meeting revealed to POLITICO EU that political uncertainties within the UK do nothing to help the current situation.
In fact, its difficult to determine not only the exact date of the summit, but theres only less than two months left before the summit takes place. Moreover, the details of the meetings agenda remain unclear at this point.
May 21, 2025, London, UK. Pro-EU demonstrators gathered to protest. IC Photo
British lawmakers plan to officially approve a series of agreements reached at last years summit during this meeting. These agreements include trade agreements related to agricultural products and food, as well as visa arrangements that allow young people to live abroad.
However, Sturmer and British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves both stated that they hope to expand the scope of negotiations during this years meeting, thereby bringing the UK economy back into closer alignment with EU standards.
However, the British government has so far hardly disclosed any specific details. It has only stated its willingness to comply with EU rules in certain areas that have not yet been specified. At the same time, Sturgeon continues to adhere to the red lines outlined in the Labour Partys campaign platform: no joining of customs unions, and no allowing free movement of EU citizens. This significantly limits her negotiating options.
It is reported that the initial signs do not indicate anything positive. EU officials have privately rejected a proposal put forward by British negotiators, which would allow Britain to join only the EUs single market for goods, but without allowing free movement of people. British officials insist that this is just one of several options being discussed at present.
Meanwhile, British legislators are also frustrated by the lack of detailed communication from their government.
Last week, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British Parliament criticized cabinet ministers for using vague and ambiguous language. Emily Thornberry, a Labour Party member and chair of the committee, stated that the government has always refused to provide clear explanations regarding its policies. It also refuses to acknowledge the necessary trade-offs and considerations involved in these policies. Ministers simply avoid addressing these issues with vague statements, showing a inconsistent stance, and their proposed goals are also ambiguous.
In Brussels, a senior EU official questioned publicly earlier this month: If we refuse to reconsider even the established red lines, then how significant can the so-called change be?
Jannike Wachowiak, a researcher at the think tank organization UK in a Changing Europe, pointed out that the current situation between the two parties seems to be evolving towards a stalemate.
For the EU, they are currently taking a wait-and-see approach, as they are not yet fully aware of Britains political intentions, she said on May 26 local time.
I believe that there is indeed a risk of falling into a deadlock between the two sides. This depends, to some extent, on who will be in charge in Britain. However I think there is a risk that Britain might propose some ambitious but unrealistic proposals, and the EU may not be particularly interested in such proposals. This could lead to an exposure of the tense relations between the two sides during this summit.
Previously, according to a report by the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph on May 19th local time, Julian King, who was nominated to work in the European Commission by then-UK Prime Minister Cameron in 2016, stated that if Britain wants to rejoin the EU, Brussels will force it to pay billions of pounds in fees. He pointed out that Britain will have to give up the EU budget mechanism that it gained during the time of Margaret Thatcher. This means that Britain will have to pay at least 5 billion pounds more per year in fees compared to before Brexit.
On May 18th, local time, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said, The door of the EU remains open to the UK. As Britains last European Commission member, Julian King stated, The door does indeed remain open, but we shouldnt expect any special treatment.
This doesnt mean that the euro must be adopted in practice. But it does mean a return to free movement of people across Europe, as well as huge budgetary commitments. Those who advocate for Britains re-entry into the EU need to establish sustainable public support for what it really means to be a member of the EU, he said.
