Liz Truss joins new club of European nations but insists it’s ‘not a new EU’

Liz Truss arrived on the purple carpet to be greeted by 44 different European leaders in Prague (Image: Getty/10 Downing Avenue)

Liz Truss has brazenly questioned the UK’s relationship with Europe previously, insisting Brexit has allowed the nation to maneuver on and stand by itself two toes.

So it could be shocking to some that the brand new prime minister has joined 44 different European leaders in Prague to type ‘a European political neighborhood with out Putin’s Russia’.

She insists the newly fashioned European Political Neighborhood (EPC), proposed by French president Emmanuel Macron in Could this yr, will not be an ‘EU assemble or EU various’.

It consists of 27 members of the EU, in addition to 17 different European international locations not presently within the bloc, together with Turkey and Ukraine, to debate points going through the entire continent.

In keeping with Downing Avenue, Ms Truss’s attendance in Prague was solely confirmed late final week.

She made the considerably shocking determination to attend, after initially expressing scepticism in regards to the concept.

‘Thanks for being right here, ‘ Mr Macron informed the Prime Minister, who smiled again as the 2 sat surrounded by officers.

She's going to stress the UK’s position in European issues regardless of the nation leaving the EU (Image: Getty Pictures)

She arrived on the purple carpet in Prague to speak about all the pieces from the struggle in Ukraine, to safety and migration (Image: Getty Pictures)

Ms Truss shared fun with Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nauseda (Image: Getty)

The brand new PM is wanting in the direction of Europe to assist construct an alliance towards Putin’s Russia (Image: Getty)

Ms Truss bought to fulfill prime minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala (Image: Rory Arnold/No10 Downing Avenue)

Downing Avenue added the PM will search to emphasize the UK’s position in European issues – together with Ukraine – regardless of leaving the EU.

Writing in The Occasions, Ms Truss insisted that after Brexit the UK ought to nonetheless be concerned with discussions which have an effect on ‘the complete continent and all of us right here at house’.

As a part of the talks in Prague, all of the leaders will talk about points like vitality, migration and safety, with a specific give attention to the struggle in Ukraine.

Different non-EU leaders from Turkey, Norway and the Balkan international locations are additionally in attendance.

Ms Truss is about to inform the session in Prague: ‘Europe is going through its largest disaster for the reason that Second World Struggle. And we've got confronted it along with unity and resolve.

‘We should proceed to face agency – to make sure that Ukraine wins this struggle, but in addition to cope with the strategic challenges that it has uncovered.

She bought to sit down at Petr Fiala’s desk (Image: Rory Arnold/No10 Downing Avenue)

She additionally met with the prime minister of Italy Mario Draghi (Image: PA)

However she’s insisted this isn’t the European Union 2.0 (Image: Reuters)

Ms Truss is predicted to fulfill French president Emmanuel Macron in Prague (Image: PA)

‘The risk was left to fester for much too lengthy. Now, eventually, we're tackling Putin’s aggression head on.

‘And we must always take the identical strategy with different challenges earlier than us – together with long-standing regional points like vitality and migration.

‘As a substitute of the previous strategy which merely handled the signs, it’s time to deal with the elemental causes.’

However there was extra turmoil for the brand new PM nearer to house as former tradition secretary Nadine Dorries, a backer of Ms Truss through the management marketing campaign – warned she should change course to keep away from a landslide basic election defeat.

Ms Dorries informed The Occasions: ‘I perceive that we have to rocket-booster progress however you don’t do this by throwing the infant out with the bathwater. You don’t win elections by lurching to the best and deserting the centre floor for Keir Starmer to position his flag on.

‘If we proceed down this path, we completely shall be going through a Stephen Harper-type wipeout. I’m certain she’s listened and can cease and rethink.’

.