EU and UK to hold summit on July 22 – POLITICO

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — The EU and the U.K. will hold their second bilateral summit on July 22 in Brussels, the two sides announced on Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the announcement in simultaneous social media posts after meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains.

“The leaders underlined the importance of close cooperation between the U.K. and Europe, to benefit both sides,” a Downing Street spokesperson said. “A closer relationship was vital for European security, resilience and prosperity,” the spokesperson added.

London and Brussels had wanted to hold the get-together on July 13, but held off announcing a date amid uncertainty about how many EU member countries might object to granting British applicants visas under a flagship youth experience scheme.

The meeting is expected to be a key moment in the reconnection between the U.K. and the bloc a decade after Britons voted to leave the EU.