Lammy seeks EU security pact on defence, energy and climate crisis

Labour is seeking a sweeping joint declaration with the EU to usher in a wide-ranging security pact covering defence, energy, the climate crisis, pandemics and even illegal migration, the foreign secretary, David Lammy, has said.

- Patrick Wintour

As part of the new government's plan to reset relations with the EU and bring "an end to the Brexit era", Lammy told the Guardian that a broadly defined security deal would not undermine Labour's commitment to remain outside the EU single market and customs union. Under Labour plans, the UK would work more closely with the bloc on areas related to security, ideally without the need for a legally binding deal that could take years to agree.

Lammy has also accepted an invitation from the EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, to the September meeting of the EU foreign affairs council something rejected by the Conservative government. It is rare for non-EU states to attend the council, and Labour thinks it may be possible to go on an irregular basis if the planned security pact develops.

In an interview during his first trip to Europe as foreign secretary, Lammy said: "We said in our manifesto we wanted an ambitious security pact and that's because we have been speaking to Europe about this for the last few years, and I think there is an appetite, particularly following the war in Ukraine and the challenges that the EU faces in relation to energy and climate, to go broader than just defence.

"So you have to obviously get into discussions with Europe and find those issues of mutual interest.