By Martin Banks

The UK PM and EU chief say they have “agreed” on the “importance of the unique relationship” between the European Union and Britain.

This came after Sir Keir Starmer met Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, this week.

They said that “in line with our shared values” they wanted to “strengthen ambitiously” cooperation between the two sides.

They reaffirmed that the post Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement “underpin” relations between them.

The two leaders also “underlined their mutual commitment to the full and faithful implementation of those agreements.”

Sir Keir has come under fire in some quarters for seemingly being luke warm towards reintroducing a youth mobility scheme between the UK and mainland  Europe.

He has reportedly said that he had “no plans” for a youth mobility scheme, a stance attacked by some.

But, after the meeting on Wednesday, he and von der Leyen said they had agreed “a stable, positive and forward-looking relationship was in their mutual interests and provided the basis for long term cooperation.”

A statement added, “They agreed to take forward this agenda of strengthened cooperation at pace over the coming months, starting with defining together the areas in which strengthened cooperation would be mutually beneficial, such as the economy, energy, security and resilience, in full respect of their internal procedures and institutional prerogatives.”

The two leaders also agreed to meet again later this autumn  and on the “importance” of holding regular EU-UK summits at leader-level to oversee the development of the relationship.

A first such summit should take place ideally in early 2025, they announced.

On foreign affairs, they denounced “Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine” and reiterated “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

Sir Keir and von der Leyen also stressed the “need to coordinate the diplomatic response to the situation in the Middle East” and called on “all sides to show restraint and end the bloodshed.”

“An immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza was required to create the space to allow for political solutions,” they said.