LONDON — The United Kingdom and European Union are looking towards their next bilateral summit as both sides seek deeper cooperation on security, migration, economic pressures and emerging technologies.
Britain's prime minister met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September, according to Downing Street.
The discussions included preparations for the next UK-EU summit, which is expected to provide another opportunity to develop the post-Brexit relationship.
European security was a major part of the talks, including Russia's war against Ukraine and concerns about hybrid threats and disinformation.
The leaders also discussed illegal migration and international economic issues, including unfair competition and excess capacity in global markets.
Artificial intelligence formed another area of discussion, with AI safety and international cooperation increasingly becoming part of wider diplomatic and economic agendas.
The discussions illustrate how the relationship between London and Brussels continues to evolve several years after the United Kingdom left the European Union.
While the UK remains outside the EU's political institutions and single market, the two sides share significant economic, security and diplomatic interests.
Future negotiations are therefore likely to focus on practical areas where cooperation can be expanded while operating within the institutional framework established after Brexit.
The next UK-EU summit will provide a forum for assessing progress across those areas and setting priorities for the next stage of bilateral relations.