Burnham sets 20 November UK-EU summit in Brussels, seeking food, emissions and youth deals
The second UK-EU summit will take place in Brussels on 20 November, with food, emissions trading, energy, youth mobility and migration on the agenda. Prime Minister Andy Burnham told MPs that the current relationship with the EU is not good enough.
Summit date confirmed
The second UK-EU summit will take place in Brussels on 20 November, the European Council announced on Monday, 12 October. European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will host Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has been in office since July. The meeting was originally set for 22 July 2026, but it was postponed after Keir Starmer left office and Burnham replaced him. The leaders will review progress made since the first UK-EU summit in London on 19 May 2025, covering defence and security, energy, agrifood rules, climate, contacts between people, migration and police and judicial cooperation. Leaders are expected to discuss global and regional issues and to issue a joint statement at the close of the meeting.
- First UK-EU summit held in London
- Andy Burnham takes office as prime minister
- Planned UK-EU summit postponed after Starmer left office
- European Council confirms the date of the second summit
- Second UK-EU summit in Brussels, with a joint statement expected
Burnham's trade and migration agenda
Burnham set out the areas where he wants agreements with the EU when he spoke in the House of Commons. He listed a food and drink deal, alignment with the EU emissions trading system, energy links, a new youth experience programme and deeper cooperation on immigration. He said these agreements could add the equivalent of more than 10 billion pounds a year to the UK economy by 2040, with potential for significantly more. Burnham argued that a food and agricultural goods deal could reduce costs and red tape for sectors such as farming. He also said the proposed energy arrangement could cut wholesale energy costs in Northern Ireland by 20%. On migration, he backed stronger police cooperation, including the sharing of more data and criminal records of foreign nationals and faster access to electronic evidence from phones linked to criminal networks.
In his statement to MPs, Burnham said:
Sticking with the status quo is not good enough for Britain.
He said the summit presents an opportunity to make progress on two crucial issues: boosting UK growth and controlling illegal immigration.
Made in Europe and the long-term debate
London plans to raise concerns at the summit about the EU's Made in Europe programme, which the UK government says could limit access for British companies to part of the European market. The programme has been a sticking point in the talks. Burnham said that after the summit he wants a calm, clear-eyed and rational discussion about the long-term relationship. He has suggested that the options could include returning to the single market, joining a customs union or even rejoining the EU, although he said he is not proposing a new referendum. Opposition parties have accused him of trying to betray the Brexit vote. In reply to Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, Burnham said he would respect election pledges not to join the customs union or the single market. He is bound by Keir Starmer's 2024 manifesto, which ruled out a customs union, a return to the single market and the return of freedom of movement. He is not expected to call a general election until 2029.
What happens next
Burnham said he would work hard over the next five weeks to secure a deal before the summit. The leaders are expected to publish a joint declaration at the end of the meeting on 20 November. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also put questions to Burnham in the Commons. The food, emissions, energy and youth mobility texts still have to be finalised before the leaders meet in Brussels.
