Macron and Sanchez say UK would be ‘welcome’ back in EU
Andy Burnham's suggestion that the U.K. could rejoin the EU was met with a more muted response from Brussels itself.
LONDON — French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have expressed welcome sentiments regarding Andy Burnham's proposal to reconsider Brexit at a joint press conference on Wednesday. Macron stated that Britain's potential return to the EU would be "excellent news," while Sánchez remarked that the U.K. would be "welcome with open arms."
Macron added that rejoining the EU would be a "wise decision" and praised Burnham's "boldness." Sánchez echoed this sentiment, saying that Spain would also be "open to embracing Britain's return." Burnham, speaking earlier at Labour's conference in Liverpool, argued that Brexit has caused more harm than good and pledged to present various options for repairing the damage at an upcoming U.K.-EU summit in November.
The summit could explore options such as rejoining the single market, customs union, or even reverting to full EU membership. However, the European Commission's response to Burnham's announcement has been relatively restrained. A spokesperson for the Union stated that it is "for the U.K. Government to set out how it wishes to develop its relationship with the EU going forward" and urged the U.K. to provide concrete proposals.
EU officials and diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed overall positivity about the prospect of a successful summit. They acknowledged that many preparations are underway but also highlighted the cautious optimism surrounding Burnham's grand shift in stance. Some questioned whether the U.K.'s potential shift back to the EU would complicate the already complex negotiations for side-deals like SPS, emission trading, and youth mobility.
EU diplomats emphasized that they will await concrete proposals from London before making any further commitments. Sandro Gozi, MEP and chair of the European Parliament's delegation to the U.K., encouraged a serious European response to Burnham's call for a new course, emphasizing the potential for a more prosperous, secure future for both sides of the channel.
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