On 4 May 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Armenia and issued a joint statement pledging to improve the EU-UK relationship for consumers, businesses and collective European security. The leaders agreed to begin negotiations on UK participation in the European Innovation Council Fund, including the Scaleup Europe Fund, to support high-growth tech firms and keep innovative companies in Europe. They also discussed the UK's plan to contribute to the EU's €90 billion (£78 billion) loan for Ukraine, calling it a major step forward in defence industrial cooperation, and underlined unwavering support for Ukraine. Looking ahead to the next EU-UK summit, they stressed the importance of an ambitious agenda for mutual benefit.
This meeting marks a further step in the post-Brexit reset between Brussels and London. The joint statement contains concrete proposals: the launch of negotiations on UK association with the European Innovation Council Fund and a UK contribution to the EU's Ukraine loan. The policy orientation is clearly conciliatory and cooperative, seeking to deepen ties across defence, innovation and trade. The leaders did not address outstanding disputes such as fisheries or the Northern Ireland Protocol, but signalled a broader ambition to reset the relationship. The agreement to commence talks on the Innovation Council Fund is a concrete deliverable, while the Ukraine loan contribution remains a plan subject to further discussion. The statement shifts the status quo towards a more friendly and integrated EU-UK relationship, particularly in defence and technology.