London, July 18, 2024 – The Prime Minister has engaged in pivotal discussions with European leaders at the European Political Community meeting, held at Blenheim Palace. These meetings underscored the United Kingdom’s commitment to fostering strong international alliances and addressing global challenges in collaboration with key partners.

The Prime Minister met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, expressing gratitude for his participation in the summit. “The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Tusk for attending the summit and said he was looking forward to advancing the UK and Poland’s close friendship. That relationship was not just based on historic ties but also shared values, the leaders agreed.” Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in critical sectors such as energy and defence. “The Prime Minister said he hoped the UK and Poland could do more together on sectors of national importance, such as energy and defence. Turning to Ukraine, the leaders discussed the situation on the battlefield and agreed on the need to never relent in the face of Russian aggression. The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.”

UK and Spain Forge Closer Ties

In a separate meeting, “The Prime Minister welcomed Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, to Oxfordshire this afternoon. The Prime Minister set out his plan to reset the United Kingdom’s position on the international stage and said he hoped the change in approach would forge the way for an agreement on Gibraltar that worked for all parties.” The leaders tackled pressing European issues, including combating Russian disinformation, addressing the climate crisis, and managing illegal migration. “The leaders also discussed the generational challenges facing Europe, including Russian disinformation, the climate crisis, and illegal migration. The Prime Minister said he hoped the UK and Spain could work even closer together to tackle such issues in the coming months. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.”

Enhancing UK-Norway Partnership

The Prime Minister also met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “The Prime Minister reflected on the close friendship between the UK and Norway, which was built on historic ties and a shared outlook. The Prime Minister said he was also proud of the close defence partnership between the two countries, and said he hoped the UK and Norway could go further in the coming years to uphold stability in the High North.” Emphasis was placed on the strong defence partnership and the importance of energy security. “The leaders also discussed the importance of energy security, including how both countries could work together on green energy and renewables. The leaders agreed that they should initiate a Norwegian-UK partnership on security and energy transition. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.”

These engagements reflect the UK’s ongoing dedication to strengthening its international relationships and addressing global challenges through strategic partnerships. The Prime Minister looks forward to continued dialogue and cooperation with these key European leaders.