Chancellor Rachel Reeves is in Copenhagen today, joining finance ministers from across Europe, as well as Canada and Ukraine, for talks on defence, trade, and investment.
It’s Reeves’ second time attending the EU finance ministers’ meeting, and the focus is clear: deepen ties with Europe, strengthen trade, and attract investment to boost growth and living standards back home.
“The EU remains our biggest trading partner. Our economic future is tied to Europe’s and we want to do more. More trade. More investment. More partnerships with countries that share our interests. Economic growth and UK security cannot be separated. Together, we are creating a safer, and more prosperous Europe”, Reeves said ahead of the meeting.
She’ll be pushing for fair trade rules that help British businesses thrive and for the kind of international investment that can raise productivity and wages. Reeves will also stress the importance of working together in the face of global challenges—from Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine to instability in the Middle East.
The UK has committed £4.5 billion in military support for Ukraine this year—the highest level ever. Reeves is expected to call for tighter coordination with European allies to counter Russian aggression, using the UK and EU’s financial clout to step up support for Ukraine.
The Chancellor will also highlight the UK’s progress since the May UK-EU Summit, when both sides agreed a new security partnership. She’ll make the case that strong defence and strong economies must go hand in hand.
Trade with Europe remains vital: in 2024, almost half of the UK’s trade (46%) was with EU countries. Tens of thousands of British businesses depend on that relationship—around 94,500 exporting goods to the EU and 157,000 importing from it.
Reeves will point to domestic reforms aimed at making the UK an attractive place to invest, from backing Heathrow’s third runway and approving Europe’s biggest theme park, to lifting the ban on onshore wind and setting ambitious housing targets.
The message from Copenhagen is clear: Britain wants to grow by being open—for business, for investment, and for partnership with its closest neighbours. Photo by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.