Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 July 2024.

The Prime Minister hosted King Abdullah II of Jordan at Downing Street today.

The Prime Minister thanked His Majesty for making the time, and said the visit demonstrated the strength of the relationship between the UK and Jordan.

The Prime Minister updated the King on his Government’s decision to lift the pause on funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency, adding that he remained deeply concerned by the trajectory of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Securing a ceasefire and ensuring the acceleration of aid into Gaza was the immediate priority, the leaders agreed. They also discussed the need to restore hope and the viability of peace on both sides.

Turning to the bilateral relationship, the leaders discussed the strong and long-standing security partnership between the UK and Jordan, as well as the opportunities to further technology, energy and education ties.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 July 2024.

The Prime Minister welcomed President Zelenskyy to Downing Street this morning, the first foreign leader to visit No10 during this government.

The leaders reflected on the NATO summit held last week, and the EPC yesterday, and agreed both meetings had underscored the strength of international support for Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy updated the Prime Minister on the situation on the battlefield. The Prime Minister said he was focused on ensuring Ukraine had the equipment and support it needed to defend its sovereignty.

Looking ahead to the next six months, the Prime Minister and President discussed the need to ensure equipment reached the front line as quickly as possible to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position ahead of the winter.

The leaders also discussed the situation in the Black Sea, and Ukraine’s success in devastating the Russian fleet. They agreed to continue to explore opportunities to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime capabilities through the Maritime Capability Coalition.

The Prime Minister said he hoped to return to Ukraine at the earliest opportunity.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the President of the French Republic met today at Blenheim Palace.

In this, the 120th anniversary year of the Entente Cordiale, the two leaders discussed the full spectrum of the bilateral relationship between the UK and France, the UK’s intention to reset its relationship with the EU and wider Europe, as well as international and global issues. 80 years on from the D-Day landings and the Liberation of France the leaders remembered the immense common sacrifices that both countries have made to defend their shared values and to protect their societies. And 30 years on from the opening of the Channel Tunnel, they recalled what the UK and France can build together when they do not constrain their ambitions, allowing their economies to flourish and their people to connect.

As fellow members of the G7, G20, NATO and permanent members of the UN Security Council, the UK and France will continue to work together to provide global leadership in an era of renewed geopolitical instability. They are committed to continuing to invest in the European Political Community format to bring together Europe’s democracies and contribute to regional stability and security through political dialogue and concrete cooperation.

Looking to the future France and the UK will pursue their cooperation across the full spectrum of the relationship, at both a bilateral and at a global level. This will include through a focus on sustainable economic growth, international development, energy security and driving low carbon solutions to tackle the climate and nature emergencies. They will embrace the opportunities presented by supporting the clean energy transition, reform of the international financial system and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.

The UK and France reaffirm their deep commitment to Europe’s defence and security. This includes their steadfast support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal war of aggression, for as long as it takes, and for Ukraine’s irreversible path to NATO membership. Fourteen years on from the Lancaster House Treaty, the UK and France share the ambition to reinvigorate their defence cooperation to reflect the complex challenges of the modern era and the range of threats from hostile state and non-state actors to our shared values and interests.

The UK and France agree the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza along with the release of all hostages, unfettered access to humanitarian aid, the upholding of international law, and progress towards establishing a Palestinian State living in peace and security alongside a safe and secure Israel. They also agree on the importance of maintaining stability and security in the wider region.

The Prime Minister and President expressed their condolences for the victims of the tragic events in the channel yesterday and last week. They committed to strengthening their cooperation on irregular migration and the fight against criminal gangs responsible for this tragic loss of life through small boat crossings. The Prime Minister presented the UK’s new Border Security Command and the vital role it will play in this mission.

As a sign of the ever deeper cooperation between the UK and France, the Prime Minister and President welcomed UK support for the staging of the Olympics. They agreed to hold the next bilateral summit in the UK in 2025.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

The Prime Minister met Jonas Støre , the Prime Minister of Norway at Blenheim Palace today, as part of the European Political Community meeting.

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

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.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

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 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.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

The Prime Minister met Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk at Blenheim Palace today, as part of the European Political Community meeting.

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.

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.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

Hello everyone, thanks for being here.

We’ve had a very successful and productive summit…

Bringing together 46 European leaders – including President Zelenskyy who addressed the EPC this morning.

We discussed once again our commitment to stand with Ukraine…

Including supporting their energy needs ahead of winter…

And cracking down on the ships that are helping Russia to evade sanctions.

We need to be clear that Ukraine is fighting not just for the Ukrainian people – and of course it is – But for the European people…

For freedom, democracy and the rule of law.

Our security therefore starts in Ukraine.

So we pledged to President Zelenskyy, once again, that we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

We also had productive discussions on wider European security…

Defending our democracies against Russian interference…

And supporting countries like Moldova who are dealing with more direct threats.

It’s not just a good idea to work with our partners, it’s essential.

I said on the steps of Downing Street, that I would govern for the whole country – including those who didn’t vote for us.

And I meant it.

We can only make progress on the issues that so many people care about…

Like illegal migration and national security…

If we have the maturity and leadership to reach out a hand to our European friends.

And I want to congratulate Ursula von der Leyen on her re-election today as President of the European Commission.

So we are going to deepen our cooperation…

On defence and security…

And on illegal migration, where we are resetting our approach and that’s been central today.

We are going to smash the gangs, break their business model, and secure our borders.

We will do this, not by committing taxpayer money to gimmicks…

But with practical solutions, that are in line with international law.

As Director of Public Prosecutions, I saw the work that can be done, across borders…

To bring terrorists to justice and break up their networks.

I simply do not accept that we can’t do the same with organised migration crime.

We started that work here today.

We’re increasing the UK presence at Europol in The Hague…

To play our full part in the European Migrant Smuggling Centre.

We’ve agreed new cooperation arrangements with partners like Slovenia and Slovakia, to disrupt organised crime.

And with our new Border Security Command…

We are going to work with our European partners to share intelligence, data and expertise and put the gangs out of business.

To stop illegal migration, we must also tackle it at source.

So today I am announcing £84 million of new funding for projects across Africa and the Middle East.

That includes humanitarian and health support, skills training, help with job opportunities, and access to education.

This is a vital part of gripping the migration crisis.

And it shows how we are going to do business on the world stage.

We are facing up to the huge problems beyond our shores…

Because these problems echo at home.

The effects play out on our streets.

In a dangerous world, we serve no-one and solve nothing by turning inward.

We have to step forward and lead.

That’s what we’re doing – that’s what we’ve shown here today.

Because it’s the best way to uphold our values…

And keep our people safe.

So, I’m proud to leave this summit with stronger relationships across Europe…

And to leave the EPC in a stronger position as well.

With a clear agenda for the coming months…

And the next summits confirmed in Hungary this year…

And Albania and Denmark in 2025.

Thank you very much.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

On 18 July 2024, at the fourth meeting of the European Political Community in the UK, the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob acknowledged the importance of longstanding and multi-faceted relations between the UK and Slovenia. They emphasised positive developments in many areas of cooperation in over three decades of relations between two like-minded partners who share a mutual vision on a broad range of international issues.

The Prime Ministers acknowledged the high level of strategic and operational law enforcement cooperation between the UK and Slovenia. In view of the continuously changing nature of all forms of crime, they declared their commitment to develop further law-enforcement cooperation and to work together to fight organised criminal groups. They further welcomed greater UK/EU cooperation to tackle organised immigration crime and irregular migration.

Building on the 2022 United Kingdom and Slovenia Joint Statement of Intent, which describes our close cooperation in the areas of foreign and security policy, economic cooperation and science, education and culture, they affirmed the importance of a shared approach to preventing and fighting terrorism, serious and organised crime, including irregular  migration, and other cross-border crime. They agreed that the UK and Slovenia will  work together to fight organised crime by:

a) Sharing strategic level analysis and expertise through regular information exchanges to analyse emerging risks and share methods and techniques to mitigate them;

b) Strengthening real time law enforcement – to – law enforcement information sharing, including with prosecutors, through new and existing communication channels to prevent, disrupt and address cross-border threats;

c) Jointly identifying and working together to close the gaps that organised criminal groups can exploit;

d) Fostering effective cooperation in justice matters between the UK and Slovenia.

The Prime Ministers agreed to instruct their respective senior officials to take forward the agreed initiatives to enhance our law enforcement cooperation.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 July 2024.

President Zelenskyy will be hosted by the Prime Minister at an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet tomorrow morning, as the UK spearheads a major initiative to crack down on Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’.

The Ukrainian leader, who will be the first official visitor to Downing Street during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s tenure, is expected to meet and brief the new Cabinet about the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, and the need to ramp up Europe’s defence industrial base to outpace the Russian threat. The last foreign leader to address the Cabinet in person was President Clinton in 1997.

The meeting comes after the launch of a ‘Call to Action’ to disrupt the Russian fleet – which is enabling Russia to evade international sanctions – at the European Political Community summit today.

Spearheaded by the UK, 44 European countries plus the European Union have agreed to work together to tackle the use of illegitimate vessels, which also pose significant security and environmental threats to European waterways.

The shadow fleet is made up of around 600 vessels and represents approximately 10% of the global “wet cargo” fleet. It carries approximately 1.7 million barrels of oil per day, generating significant funds to fuel Russia’s war machine.

Some of the ships are also alleged to double as Russian listening stations, while others are believed to be transporting weaponry to Russia.

The Prime Minister is expected to tell President Zelenskyy tomorrow that the UK will go further in the coming months to place a greater stranglehold on Putin’s war machine.

The two leaders are also expected to agree a Defence Export Support Treaty, which will be signed by defence ministers, to fire up both the UK’s and Ukraine’s defence industrial bases and increase military hardware and weaponry production.

The treaty will enable Ukraine to draw on £3.5 billion of export finance, to support its armed forces. It will also allow Ukrainian and UK defence companies to invest in further military capabilities and continue to rapidly innovate on new and novel military hardware.

The boost follows the opening of a major UK repair and overhaul facility in Ukraine to help sustain the war effort. BAE Systems opened the facility to allow Ukraine to return overhauled land vehicles back to the front line quicker.

The export finance is in addition to the £3 billion a year of UK support, announced by the Prime Minister at NATO, to support Ukraine’s defence for as long as it takes.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Ukraine is, and always will be, at the heart of this government’s agenda and so it is only fitting that President Zelenskyy will make a historic address to my Cabinet.

Russia’s incremental gains on the battlefield are nothing compared with the collective international support for Ukraine, or the strength of ties between our people.

And alongside our European partners, we have sent a clear message to those enabling Putin’s attempts to evade sanctions: we will not allow Russia’s shadow fleet, and the dirty money it generates, to flow freely through European waters and put our security at risk.

The UK has also sanctioned a host of oil tankers today, which transport Russian oil. Among the new ships targeted are the ROCKY RUNNER (IMO 9288899), which sought to escape previous UK action by changing its operator.

This follows after UK action last month that halted tankers collectively responsible for transporting approximately 13 million barrels of Russian crude and oil products since January 2023, worth approximately $930 million.

The ‘shadow fleet’, also known as the ‘dark fleet’, poses serious maritime security and environmental risks. The vessels are often old and unsafe, and engage in dangerous and deceptive shipping practices, such as turning off location tracking systems, which flouts international maritime standards, and increases the likelihood of catastrophic incidents.

EPC states govern some of the world’s busiest and most important waterways, and dozens of incidents are known to have already taken place, such as onboard fires, engine failures, oil spills and collisions, and many of the vessels lack the appropriate insurance.

The UK has already taken robust action to restrict Russian revenues, including implementing the most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy – sanctioning more than 2,000 individuals and entities since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including 29 banks with global assets worth £1 trillion, more than 131 oligarchs with a combined net worth of more than £147 billion at the time of the invasion, and more than £20 billion worth of UK-Russia bilateral trade.

Action to disrupt and deter the shadow fleet comes after the UK contributed £40 million to NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine last week, ensuring Ukraine can access vital assistance for counter drone protection, demining of recaptured land and the medical rehabilitation of its injured military personnel. That followed the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine placing new orders, worth £300 million, for 120,000 rounds of 152mm Soviet-era ammunition to bolster Ukraine’s defences against Russia.

The leaders are also expected to discuss the conclusion of UK – Ukraine negotiations to provide £181 million of support to Energoatom for the supply of nuclear fuel from Urenco.

Notes to Editors

List of ship specifications:

• ROCKY RUNNER (IMO 9288899)
• DYNAMIK TRADER (IMO 9286657)
• FIGHTER TWO (IMO 9296391)
• SCF AMUR (IMO 9333436)
• SCF PECHORA (IMO 9333424)
• ZALIV AMURSKIY (IMO 9354313)
• NS LOTUS (IMO 9339337)
• NS COMMANDER (IMO 9306794)
• ADYGEYA (IMO 9292204)
• KOROLEV PROSPECT (IMO 9826902)
• PRIMORSKY PROSPECT (IMO 9511533)

Note on ship specification:

Ships specified under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 are prohibited from entering a port in the UK, may be given a movement or a port entry direction, can be detained, and will be refused permission to register on the UK Ship Register or have its existing registration terminated. In addition, the Oil Price Cap exception is not applicable to services in relation to specified ships, or to the supply or delivery of Russian oil or oil products in specified ships. The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation has published guidance on the Russian Oil Services ban. Limited exceptions apply and licences may be granted for specified ships, as set out in Part 7 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 17 July 2024.

Border Security will be at the heart of the Government’s reset with Europe, the Prime Minister will tell world leaders at a major European summit tomorrow [Thursday 18 July].

The Prime Minister is set to tell the meeting of the European Political Community that he believes the magnitude of compounding challenges facing Europe cannot be solved alone, and that countries must work collectively to deliver solutions that rebalance the equation.

That will start with the UK taking a more active and greater convening role on the world stage, to strike genuine partnerships that have impact on people’s lives, he will say.

He will add that the UK’s reset on the global stage will be rooted in upholding democratic values and international law and ensuring the economic and financial security of working people.

Setting out his first steps to improve the livelihoods of hardworking people, the Prime Minister will announce the redeployment of more than 100 Home Office staff from the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) and redeployment of them to a new rapid returns unit to take control of our borders.

The Prime Minister is also pledging to help lead the Europe-wide effort to combat organised immigration crime, and the people smuggling gangs trading in human lives, in co-operation with Europol, Frontex, and individual member states.

Irregular migration is a continent-wide problem, with more than 380,000 people believed to have entered the EU through irregular routes – an increase of 17% on the previous year. Around 41% of those arrivals are believed to have come in small boats across the Central Mediterranean, 26% on land through the Balkans, and 16% coming across the Eastern Mediterranean.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

We cannot let the challenges of the recent past define our relationships of the future. That is why European security will be at the forefront of this government’s foreign and defence priorities, and why I am focused on seizing this moment to renew our relationship with Europe.

The EPC will fire the starting gun on this government’s new approach to Europe, one that will not just benefit us now, but for generations to come, from dismantling the people smuggling webs trafficking people across Europe, to standing up to Putin’s barbaric actions in Ukraine and destabilising activity across Europe.

My government was elected with a mandate for change. I asked the British people to judge me by my actions, not words. This meeting of European leaders is an opportunity to push on and begin delivering on the people’s priorities. We will only be able to secure our borders, drive economic growth and defend our democracies if we work together.

Asylum decisions will be accelerated and, under the new fast-tracked system in the returns and enforcement unit, we will prioritise those who have no right to be in the UK and the greatest chance of being returned.

It comes after the government announced a Border Security Bill in the King’s Speech to tackle the criminal smuggling gangs, delivering on a key manifesto pledge. It will give the new Border Security Command counter terrorism-style powers to disrupt organised immigration crime and ensure smugglers can be prosecuted for preparatory offences such as supplying materials to facilitate organised immigration crime.

The new powers will build on the success of similar robust measures to counter terrorism and will include strengthening powers for law enforcement officers to investigate involvement in organised immigration crime.

The Home Secretary has already delivered a 50% uplift in NCA officers to be based in Europol with immediate effect and work is underway to further deepen our partnerships with Europol and its European Migrant Smuggling Centre.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Dangerous small boat crossings are undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. Criminal smuggling gangs are making millions out of small boat crossings.

We will work right across Europe to tackle this problem at source, going after those profiting from this awful trade and bringing them to justice.

The new Border Security Command will be a major step change in UK enforcement efforts to tackle organised immigration crime, drawing on substantial resource to work across Europe and beyond to disrupt trafficking networks and deliver justice.

At the same time, work is underway to transform the UK’s asylum system and accelerate decision-making, with a new returns and enforcement unit being set up in the Home Office to fast-track the removal of those with no right to be in the UK.

The EPC is the only pan European meeting of leaders, including the heads of the EU institutions, and for the first time at this EPC the leaders of NATO, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The only European governments not invited are Russia and Belarus.

As well as focusing on the shared challenge of migration, the EPC will also convene leaders to discuss defending democracy and energy security through three working groups. The Prime Minister will attend the migration working group, alongside Italy, Albania, Germany, Malta, Denmark, Hungary, The Netherlands and Slovakia.

The Prime Minister is expected to host a number of bilaterals with key European leaders tomorrow, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He is also expected to attend a meeting of the Moldova Group to underline Moldova’s sovereignty and democracy in the face of Russian interference.

Blenheim Palace is the birthplace of Churchill who stood up to a previous generation of aggression on European soil and was the inspiration for the Council of Europe which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. The founding Treaty of London will be on show as the UK returns to its rightful place at the centre of European affairs.