UK must forge closer ties with Europe, say unions

Calls for new agreement amid an increasingly volatile global economy

- Jessica Elgot Rowena Mason

Britain should forge much closer ties with Europe amid an increasingly "volatile and unpredictable" global economy, Britain's biggest trade unions will argue, as they push for new workers' rights across the continent.

In its first major intervention in five years on Europe, the TUC will call for a "much needed" closer relationship with the EU in a joint statement with European counterparts.

Before Keir Starmer's EU reset talks, the TUC will say negotiations must include new opportunities for good-quality jobs for British workers in the EU and EU workers in Britain - though it will stop short of calling for a return to freedom of movement.

Starmer has spent his first six months in power laying the groundwork for a better relationship with Brussels, hoping for better defence cooperation and smoother trade, while the EU would like a mobility scheme in return, allowing less-restricted travel for young people.

Cooperation between Britain and the EU has intensified following the election of Donald Trump, with European leaders agreeing higher military spending to counter the threat of Russia in a world where they will have to rely less on US backing.

After a meeting of EU-only leaders this week, Starmer spoke to António Costa, the president of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission yesterday along with the leaders of Canada, Turkey, Norway and Iceland about how to bolster the continent's defences.