German lawmaker Katarina Barley of the European Social Democrats welcomed the Labour Party’s election victory in the UK, stating that it brought hope to the European Union.

Ms Barley was one of the vice-presidents of the European Parliament in the last legislative period and her party’s top candidate in the European elections in June.

“I am pleased that, after years of tension, a Labour prime minister in London will now have the opportunity to strike a more friendly and constructive tone,’’ Ms Barley said on Friday.

Ms Barley, who has a British father, added that after 14 years of conservative government, including Brexit, the EU and the UK had become alienated from each other.

“A rapid re-entry of the UK into the EU remains very unlikely’’, said Ms Barley, adding that the UK, however, was an important strategic partner of the European Union. “Both a Labour government and the EU are interested in a new geopolitical partnership.’’

Germany’s governing Social Democrats (SPD), where Ms Barley is a member, and the British Labour Party have close ties.

The pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), the junior partner in Germany’s three-party coalition, expected a significant improvement in German-British relations following the UK’s election results.

The party’s foreign policy spokesman Ulrich Lechte said late on Thursday.

Mr Lechte said he was convinced that with Labour leader Starmer, more political objectivity would prevail in the UK.

He added that the Labour Party’s election win offered a chance to renew and strengthen the European security architecture within NATO as the UK is an important European troop contributor.

Lechte also said that successful cooperation between the Germans and the British on defence could be further expanded under a British Labour government.

(dpa/NAN)