UK seeks EU negotiator as Starmer pushes ‘reset’ with Brussels

The government of the United Kingdom is hunting for a senior negotiator to lead Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s drive to “reset” ties with Brussels.

In a job posting published online, the government in London said it was looking for a senior civil servant who would act as an adviser to Starmer on trade, migration, economic and international issues related to the European Union.

The announcement comes amid a broader thaw in relations between Brussels and London after the election of Starmer’s Labour Party in July. While insisting he will not seek to reverse Brexit, the prime minister has committed to improving ties with the EU and said he wants to renegotiate a previous trade deal agreed on as the U.K. quit the bloc in 2020.

The negotiator role would also involve acting as an EU “sherpa” — representing the prime minister in negotiations with the bloc — and leading talks with Brussels on a proposed security cooperation agreement.

It will also include dealing with existing Brexit agreements and upcoming changes to EU border rules that aim to digitalize entry to the bloc and to impose a fee for Britons starting next year, the so-called EU Entry/Exit System.

The move to appoint a new negotiator comes after Starmer visited Brussels last month for the first time since becoming prime minister, where he met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The two agreed to explore stronger ties on the economy, energy, security and resilience.