< p>British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will push for renewed ties when he meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today for a "first conversation" on issues such as trade, security and youth mobility, reports "Reuters".
Starmer, whose Labor party won the election in July, said his government would not seek wholesale negotiations on the Brexit deal that took Britain out of the bloc.
However, he is trying to correct relations in a number of areas. The European Union shares his desire for a common security pact, but negotiations on obstacles to the movement of goods and people may prove more difficult.
"We will only be able to deal with international challenges by putting our collective weight behind them, which is why I am determined to put the Brexit years behind me and establish a more pragmatic and mature relationship with the European Union," Starmer before the visit.
He has already visited Berlin, Paris, Rome and Dublin since the election to lay the groundwork for rebuilding ties. In addition to von der Leyen, Starmer will also speak with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, as well as with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Mezzola.
"The word "restart" is used by both sides, so it will obviously be an opportunity to discuss a possible way forward," a Commission spokesman said this week. "This is the first meeting of the two of them, so it will just be the beginning of a conversation.
Starmer ruled out any return to the EU single market, customs union or free movement agreements.
However, he has pledged to seek a new vet deal aimed at reducing border checks, and also wants mutual recognition of certain professional qualifications and easier access to the EU for touring artists.
Although Starmer's warmer tone was welcomed by EU leaders, both sides acknowledged that changes to the nature of the relationship would be subject to difficult negotiations even if the core principles of the Brexit deal were not affected.
For example, Starmer noted there are no plans for a youth mobility scheme, rejecting an EU proposal to allow EU citizens aged 18 to 30 to live in Britain and young Britons to stay in the EU for up to four years .
Youth mobility is a key EU requirement and its adoption by London could be a condition for progress on Britain's wish list.