EU staff protest in pouring rain over union’s “inaction” over Israel/Gaza war.

As we reported in July an EU-UK summit has been pencilled in for Spring 2025. The summit would be between Keir Starmer and leaders of the EU institutions, rather than the EU27.

The Welsh Guards mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Brussels. They were the first Allied soldiers to enter the city on 3 September 1944.

The first EU-UK summit of the post-Brexit era is "mentally" pencilled in for spring 2025. theguardian.com/politics/liv…

Ursula von der Leyen and Keir Starmer to meet in late August, early September via @lisaocarroll per Tuesday politics liveblog. Diary clashes prevented a meeting from happening later this week.

Ursula von der Leyen promises to strengthen relations with UK on energy, security and people-to-people contacts, if she gets a second term. No reference to UK in her speech (no surprises there) other than mention of singing of Auld Lang Syne in EP 2020.

Between writing about the VDL vote and UK-EU reset, I somehow ended up at a Surrealism exhibition today ⁦@FineArtsBelgium⁩ and found my favourite Magritte painting.

A small step backwards for women in European politics: the new European parliament has only 39% women MEPs, slightly down on the previous assembly (41%).

EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel both mention security in messages congratulating Keir Starmer. Labour is pushing at an open door in seeking a foreign policy and security pact with the EU. Improving the economic relationship is more complicated.

Sunset over the European Council and EU leaders have just started discussing top jobs. A little bit of #Brussels