LONDON (Realist English). European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined to meet UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, as a financial dispute threatens to derail the post-Brexit “reset” between Brussels and London.
According to officials familiar with the talks, Starmer had sought a meeting to protest EU demands that the UK pay up to €6.5bn to join a joint loans-for-weapons initiative and contribute further to the EU budget. The European Commission confirmed that Starmer requested a meeting in Belém but said it “did not take place due to scheduling reasons.”
A UK government spokesperson stressed that “no deal has been agreed” and that London “will only support arrangements that deliver clear value for the UK and its industry.”
Von der Leyen’s avoidance highlights growing sensitivities in Brussels over how to manage relations with Britain’s Labour government. While ties have improved since Starmer took office, many EU capitals — especially France — are wary of allowing the UK to regain access to EU programmes “without paying the full cost.”
The dispute is centered on the EU’s SAFE programme, designed to expand Europe’s joint defence procurement. “When we talk of European defence, the UK is part of that,” said one senior EU diplomat, but others insist London must make a significant financial contribution.
The standoff comes six months after both sides declared a new era of cooperation. Yet unresolved issues — from youth mobility and Erasmus+ participation to food standards and energy market access — have reignited old tensions.
Several EU states want Britain to contribute to EU regional funds, similar to Norway and Switzerland, as a condition for reconnecting emissions trading and energy systems. But Germany and the Netherlands oppose new financial demands, warning they could jeopardize next year’s planned EU-UK summit.
EU ambassadors will meet in Brussels on Tuesday to seek a compromise — but for now, the optimism of the “reset” looks increasingly fragile.