Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Image source, PA Media

Had he not called the election, Rishi Sunak would have hosted this summit.

Instead, we saw his successor seek to assert himself on the world stage.

And I imagine No 10 will be very pleased with how it’s gone.

The prime minister had a chance to rub shoulders with European leaders who will be key partners while he’s in office. Many of them were very helpful indeed in their language, praising the new prime minister and echoing his language on a “reset” in relations.

Starmer got his chance to assert his steadfast support for Ukraine, flanked by President Zelensky in the main summit meeting.

The PM also made it abundantly clear he wanted a better - and closer - relationship with Europe.

Action will, of course, be harder. For example, both the prime minister and President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged there was no “silver bullet” when it comes to stopping small boats crossing the Channel.

And there will be limits to what can be achieved. In the post-Brexit world, European leaders don’t want to give the UK special treatment. A closer relationship will require concessions

But for Starmer, the new leader's honeymoon on the world stage seems to be continuing. He’ll be pretty happy indeed with his first summit on home soil.

Image source, Reuters

Leaders from nearly 50 European nations gathered at Blenheim Palace today for a summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

It was the fourth such meeting of the European Political Community, and focused in the main on migration, security and Ukraine.

Here’s a look back at the key moments:

• In his opening speech, the PM vowed to reset the UK's relationship with the European Union and stressed that the country would not withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights

• And in his closing speech, Starmer tackled migration, saying he agreed with French President Emmanuel Macron that there's no "silver bullet" for small boat crossings
• He also announced £84m of funding for projects in Africa and the Middle East to tackle illegal migration "at source"
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also made an address, saying "Putin has not divided us" as he urged Europe's leaders to show collective will to stop Russia
• Later, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told the BBC he expected the US to continue its support of the defence bloc regardless of who won the upcoming presidential election
• And away from the summit, Ursula von der Leyen won a second term as European Commission president

We're ending our live coverage shortly.

To see us off will be some final analysis from our political correspondent Nick Eardley - coming soon.

Earlier on today, on the fringes of the EPC summit, it was announced that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala signed a defence and security agreement.

Sharing the update on X, Fiala described it as an "important symbol" of their existing partnership, and said it "creates space for future co-operation".

The two nations' cabinets met in Prague earlier this week, signing agreements that include opening a new armaments factory in Ukraine in co-operation with Czech-owned small calibre ammunition manufacturer Sellier & Bellot.

Image source, Reuters

The King has said he "feels sorry" for Gareth Southgate as he commended the former England manager for doing a "brilliant job", PA news agency reports.

It says Charles made the comments to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner as he greeted European leaders at a drinks reception at the European Political Community summit in Oxfordshire.

Rayner could be overheard telling Charles that England's loss in the final was "agonising".

The King agreed, adding: "I know, I feel so sorry for the manager.

"They always get the blame, but in fact he actually did a brilliant job."

Southgate resigned as England manager on Tuesday, two days after the team lost to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent, reporting from Blenheim Palace

Image source, PA Media

French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed UK attempts to reset relations with the EU, but warned it will not be able to “cherry pick” a new deal.

Speaking at a press conference after the EPC summit, Macron says he is a strong believer in the "entente cordiale", and says Britain and France have a “unique and very strong bilateral relationship”.

He says "one obviously has to respect what was decided and signed" in the original deal and "should not be a sort of cherry picking" in order to improve it.

Macron adds: "But if this is a comprehensive approach in order to reset relations, I think this is a very important moment.”

Image source, PA Media

As promised, here's a look back over those key lines from PM Keir Starmer's press conference:

• Leaders have committed to standing with Ukraine "for as long as it takes", Starmer said, adding that commitment includes supporting Kyiv's energy needs ahead of winter

• Reiterating remarks from French President Emmanual Macron, Starmer also said there was "no easy silver bullet" to tackling small boats crossing the channel
• "It's difficult, it's hard, it's challenging but I'm absolutely convinced it's a very serious problem and it requires a very serious response," he told journalists
• He also announced £84m to be used for funding projects in Africa and the Middle East - the ultimate aim of this is to stop illegal migration

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, reporting from Blenheim Palace

You might have seen Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer joking and smiling ahead of the King's Speech yesterday.

That might seem strange after the often fractious election campaign.

But Starmer has just praised his predecessor for his actions since the election, saying Sunak had been “statesmanlike” and “generous”.

The new PM was answering questions at his Blenheim Palace press conference about whether he’d continue Sunak’s strong relationship with Italy’s prime minister. Starmer said that relationship was very important and he wanted to continue it.

Image source, Reuters

Echoing pledges made during the general election campaign, Starmer tells reporters that he hopes that the first two weeks of a Labour government has offered some insight into how "we are going to go about things - country first, party second".

He emphasises again his desire to reset UK relations on the international stage and "the need to cement some of the relations we have been building in opposition... that is something that I came into politics to do".

And with that, the press conference is over. We'll bring you a digest of the key lines shortly.

Starmer is next asked by the Daily Mail if he can categorically rule out the prospect of offshore asylum processing centres in the future.

Starmer says discussions were about practical measures, adding that his government will look at what works.

Processing cases "closer to origin" is something worth looking at, he says.

He says his focus is to make sure the we [the UK] "secure our borders". As for any returns agreement with Europe, he says he's always made clear the UK is not going to be part of the EU scheme.

Turning now to economics, the Financial Times asks about possible closer ties with the EU and if Starmer has "heard anything [at the summit] that encourages you to be more ambitious about what you are seeking".

For context: Starmer says he wants to forge closer ties to the EU and a "better deal" with the bloc, but has ruled out re-joining its institutions, including the single market.

The PM replies that the appetite is for a UK back on the international scene playing a leading part with a different stance within the EU and beyond.

He agrees that the UK wants "a better deal than then one we have but I think there is a closer relationship to be had".

Starmer pleased at how this summit has gonepublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 18 July

17:46 BST 18 July

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, reporting from Blenheim Palace

Keir Starmer is pleased at how this summit has gone and the mood music is clearly positive.

I asked him about President Macron saying there was no “silver bullet” on small boats crossing the Channel - he clearly agrees: “There’s no silver bullet or it would have been fired a long time ago.”

The government hopes that stronger cooperation tackling gangs will help reduce numbers.

It’s also pledging money to deal will challenges in Africa and the Middle East - to try and deter people starting journeys that end in small boats crossings.

Sky's Beth Rigby asks the PM when he expects to make progress on the issue of small boats, putting to him that more than 550 arrived in the two weeks since he was elected.

"We can't turn it around that quickly," he says, pointing out that two weeks ago Labour was still "knocking on doors trying to get people to vote for us".

She asks about Donald Trump's presidential running mate, JD Vance, who has been critical of the continued American financial and military support going to Ukraine, to which Starmer answers: "We will work with whoever is elected into office".

That is what I meant about maturity and leadership, he says, adding that he is "committed to the special relationship between the UK and US".

ITV's Robert Peston presses the PM on what support can be offered to Ukraine, putting to him that arms manufacturing in the UK and Europe is "completely inadequate" to support that country on its own, if the US reaches a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Starmer says he is not going to pre-empt the presidential election result in the US (which takes place this November) but stresses the "shared commitment" among European leaders at the Blenheim Palace summit.

He also credited the previous UK government's stance on supporting Ukraine and says Labour would "continue that work".

Nick Eardley also asks the PM what support he will offer Ukraine, Starmer says there’s no change in his position when it comes to the capabilities the UK is providing.

No new decisions have been taken since the last government, he adds, but support for Ukraine is as strong as it was, and made stronger by the summit today and Nato's commitment last week.

On to questions now, and the BBC's political correspondent Nick Eardley asks Starmer whether French President Emmanuel Macron was right when he said "there was no silver bullet" when it comes to stopping small boat crossings.

"There is no easy silver bullet", Starmer says. "If there was it would have been fired a long time ago."

He says the small boats crossing is serious which is why the "gimmick" of the Conservative's Rwanda scheme has been put to one side.

He adds that the UK and its partners have to tackle the problem upstream, referring to "the drivers of migration" - including climate change and poverty.

Starmer announces £84m in funding - the ultimate aim of which is to stop illegal migration.

That money will fund projects across Africa and the Middle East, he says, aiming to help with job opportunities and access to education.

The PM goes on: "This is a vital part of gripping the migration crisis and shows how we [the UK] are going to do business on the world stage - these problems echo at home and the effects play out on our streets."

Image source, PA Media

Starmer highlights his work as former director of public prosecutions, when he saw work that could be done to break up terror networks, adding that he doesn't accept that similar work cannot be done to break up organised migration crime.

He then lists some of the steps taken at the EPC summit to put a stop to the criminal gangs.

"We are going to deepen our co-operation on defence and security and on illegal migration, where we are resetting our approach and that's been central today," he says.

"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."

Starmer says European leaders also spoke about other matters, including protecting Moldova from Russian interference.

Turning to domestic matters, the PM says he made the promise to "govern for the whole country" when he was elected, reaffirming that he meant that.

But, he says, progress on issues like migration and security can only be made if "we reach out a hand to our European friends".

A little later than scheduled, Keir Starmer begins his press conference by describing the European Political Community summit as "very successful and productive", in which leaders committed to "stand together with Ukraine".

He says that commitment includes supporting the country's energy needs ahead of winter.

"We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," he says.

Image source, Reuters

Starmer walks onto the stage and takes his place behind the podium, flanked by union jack flags.

Members of the press have also taken their places in the seats facing the PM.