European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined to meet UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, amid tensions over Brussels’ demand that Britain pay billions of euros to secure deeper post-Brexit cooperation with the European Union.
According to officials familiar with the matter, Starmer had sought a meeting to discuss the EU’s proposal that the UK contribute up to €6.5 billion to participate in the bloc’s new loans-for-weapons programme and make additional payments to the EU budget as part of efforts to strengthen defence and industrial ties.
A Commission spokesperson confirmed Starmer’s request but said the meeting “did not take place for scheduling reasons.” A UK government official downplayed the episode, noting: “We weren’t trying to pin her down on this specific issue… In the end, they didn’t end up meeting.”
Strained Diplomacy Behind the Scenes
The diplomatic snub highlights the fragile state of EU-UK relations, despite recent attempts to reset cooperation after years of post-Brexit friction.
While Brussels has welcomed the more pragmatic tone of Starmer’s Labour government, many EU member states — led by France — remain wary of granting the UK benefits of membership without financial contributions. Officials fear setting a precedent that could encourage other non-member states to seek similar privileges without paying into EU programmes.
“The relationship has warmed politically, but when money is on the table, the divisions quickly resurface,” said one senior EU diplomat.
The “Safe” Programme and the Defence Debate
At the centre of the dispute is the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, a proposed joint rearmament and procurement scheme designed to bolster the continent’s defences in the wake of Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
Brussels has invited the UK to take part, recognizing Britain’s strategic importance to European defence, but insists that London must contribute substantially to access the same industrial and commercial benefits as EU members.
“When we talk of European defence, the UK is part of that,” said one EU official. “But participation cannot come for free.”
France, in particular, is pushing for the UK to pay a “hefty price” for inclusion, citing the need for fair competition and equal burden-sharing among participants.
The deadline for bids under the SAFE programme is November 30, leaving a narrow window for potential talks between von der Leyen and Starmer to resolve the standoff.
From “Reset” to Renewed Tension
The dispute over money comes just six months after a highly publicised EU-UK summit in May, which formally announced a diplomatic “reset.” The two sides pledged to rebuild trust and deepen cooperation in areas such as energy, research, and youth exchanges.
However, many of the most sensitive details were left vague in the summit’s “Common Understanding” document — the blueprint for current negotiations.
Since then, several contentious issues have resurfaced, particularly over youth mobility, education, and trade alignment:
- Erasmus+ Student Exchange: The UK has offered to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ programme with a 50% discount, arguing that more EU students study in Britain than the reverse. Brussels has rejected that proposal, insisting any discount should be temporary and capped at 30%.
- Youth Mobility Scheme: London’s plan for a limited youth exchange for 18–30-year-olds — based on bilateral agreements and capped in numbers — has clashed with the EU’s preference for an unlimited and legally binding arrangement, granting EU students access to UK “home fee” rates.
- Veterinary and Food Standards Deal: Talks on aligning food, animal, and plant checks have stalled. Some EU states have blocked a mandate to launch formal negotiations, insisting the UK must first commit to following EU sanitary and phytosanitary rules.
Divisions Among EU Member States
Even within the EU, there are deep divisions over how hard to press the UK on financial contributions.
Several member states — including Germany and the Netherlands — argue that imposing new payment demands risks damaging the political goodwill built since the “reset.” Others, led by France, believe the UK must pay into EU regional and defence funds as a condition for regaining access to the single energy market and linking its emissions trading system (ETS) with the EU’s — a move that could help avoid carbon border taxes on British exports.
Ambassadors are set to meet in Brussels on Tuesday to seek a compromise, though officials say consensus remains elusive.
A Diplomatic Balancing Act
The episode underscores the delicate balancing act facing both sides.
Starmer’s government has sought to rebuild trust with Europe while assuring voters that the UK will not “pay to play.” Meanwhile, Brussels must balance political caution and economic pragmatism, ensuring the UK’s participation strengthens — rather than undermines — the EU project.
As one EU diplomat put it, “Warm words and photo opportunities are easy. Turning that goodwill into real, lasting agreements — especially when money and sovereignty are involved — is far more complicated.”
