EPC summit in Budapest to discuss Ukraine, migration and global trade may reveal stark divisions within bloc

European leaders are gathering in Budapest for two days of top-level talks that should give an indication of how united the continent can remain in response to Donald Trump’s second term as US president, but could also reveal its divisions.

Hosted by Hungary’s authoritarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, a Trump ally who has enthusiastically hailed the Republican candidate’s re-election, the EU 27’s leaders are being joined on Thursday by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the UK’s Keir Starmer, the Nato secretary general Mark Rutte and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Prime minister’s chief fixer, Pat McFadden, says he thinks government can get by without Nigel Farage’s assistance

Keir Starmer will today sign new agreements to intercept criminal gangs smuggling migrants through the Western Balkans as part of efforts to bring down small boat crossings, PA Media reports. PA says:

Starmer will announce the deals to boost intelligence sharing, expertise and co-operation with Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo at a meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest, Hungary.

He is expected to urge European partners to take action to reduce deaths in the Channel during small boat crossings and tell them that lawful, international co-operation will be key to efforts.

There is a criminal empire operating on our continent, exacting a horrendous human toll and undermining our national security.

Backed by our new Border Security Command, the UK will be at the heart of the efforts to end the scourge of organised immigration crime – but we cannot do it in isolation.

Perhaps the biggest worry that Sir Keir Stammer faces in policy terms is that Trump has announced a big tariff regime. Britain is, potentially, in a fortunate position. Such tariffs might be avoided – but only by direct negotiations with Team Trump, something of which Stammer’s friends in the European Union would not approve. Which way will Starmer jump?

Britain is really going to have to roll out the red carpet for Trump very quickly. If we don’t, a great opportunity will be squandered.

I’m overjoyed that this process has already begun, with our very sensible Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, making clear that Trump will be able to address parliament during his State visit next year.

Iran foreign ministry says US approach in past has led to ‘bitter experiences’; Lebanese capital’s south hit after Israel orders evacuations

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said the presidential election result in the US is a chance for a new administration to “review the wrong approaches of the past”.

Reuters quotes Esmaeil Baghaei saying “We had bitter experiences with various US governments’ past policies and approaches. Elections are an opportunity to review the wrong approaches of the past. What is important for Iran will be how we evaluate the actions of the US government.”