Luxembourg - October 14, 2024

The attendance of the United Kingdom (UK) at a European Union (EU) council meeting marks a "reset" in their relationship, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Monday in Luxembourg.

Lammy attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, at the invitation of Josep Borrell, EU high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The British foreign secretary said he was delighted to talk to 27 member states and their foreign ministers about important issues of European security, stressing that the UK and Europe's security is indivisible.

Lammy has become the first British foreign secretary since Brexit to attend a regular meeting of EU foreign ministers, "as part of Labour's 'reset' with Europe," according to British media reports.

"With the ambition for the EU and the UK to become closer security partners, we need to strengthen our cooperation across the full range of foreign and security challenges we face as a continent," said Lammy and top EU diplomat Josep Borrell in a joint article published on Monday.

Borrell said conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East will be the main subjects of discussion at Monday's Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose Labour Party won an election in July, made his first visit to the EU headquarters in early October since assuming office, with both sides agreeing to strengthen cooperation and hold regular UK-EU summits starting early next year.

European media analyzed that the attendance of Lammy at the EU foreign ministers' meeting is part of these regular engagements, signaling the UK's desire to work more closely with the EU on foreign affairs and strengthen their partnership on security issues such as the Ukraine crisis and the situation in the Middle East.

Shotlist:
Luxembourg - Oct 14, 2024:
1. Various of European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL) building, flags;
FILE: London, UK - Aug 5, 2024
2. UK national flag flying atop building;
FILE: London, UK - July 4-5, 2024
3. UK national flag, Palace of Westminster;
4. Elizabeth Tower;
5. Various of cityscape, traffic;
FILE: Brussels, Belgium - Date Unknown
6. Various of European Union (EU) flags in front of Berlaymont building.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]