EU postpones UK summit as Starmer resigns, Burnham favorite to succeed

European Council President António Costa stated that the summit "must be postponed" and expressed hope that Starmer's successor would provide "continuity" in resetting UK-EU relations. The postponement occurs on the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum. Discussions at the shelved summit were set to include a veterinary and food-standards deal to ease border checks, a link-up between the EU and UK emissions-trading systems, and a youth-mobility scheme.

Starmer stepped down under pressure from Labour MPs, citing concerns over the rise of Reform UK and recent local election results. Nominations for the Labour leadership are expected to open in early July, with a successor likely to be in place by September. While Burnham has expressed a desire for the UK to rejoin the EU in the future, he has also pledged to honor Labour's commitment not to re-enter the single market or customs union during the current parliamentary term. EU officials will be closely watching to understand his approach to the bloc.