What Is the UK-EU Summit on 20 November 2026?
The UK-EU summit is a meeting between the British government and the European Union's leaders to agree closer cooperation after Brexit. The second summit takes place in Brussels on Friday 20 November 2026, when Prime Minister Andy Burnham will meet António Costa, president of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
Chancellor John Healey said on 12 November that Britain would pursue closer cooperation where the benefits to businesses and consumers outweighed the costs. He pointed to food and farming, where the government wants to cut red tape, ease costs for businesses and help bring down prices.
What happened at the first summit?
The first UK-EU summit was held in London on 19 May 2025, when the two sides agreed a new strategic partnership. The November meeting is the follow-up, focused on practical agreements rather than reopening the Brexit deal itself.
What are businesses asking for?
More than 300 music, live performance and cultural organisations have written to Mr Burnham and EU leaders urging progress on touring, saying current barriers still limit UK and EU artists. Research from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport estimated the UK lost £208 million and 2,490 full-time equivalent jobs in the touring sector between 2022 and 2024.
Is the summit about rejoining the EU?
No. The government is seeking closer cooperation, not EU membership. Mr Healey said Britain would only pursue agreements where the benefits outweighed the trade-offs, and the summit is about practical deals on trade, food and other shared issues.
