UK PM Burnham reopens divisive debate on rejoining EU

French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed their welcome to the idea of the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union. Macron, while in Madrid, greeted the proposal with the words "Welcome back" in English. He stated that if the British government is considering returning, it would be a positive development for both the UK and Europe.

Macron emphasized that the UK cannot adopt a selective approach, choosing some aspects of the EU while rejecting others. He firmly rejected the notion of a "la carte" option, insisting that the union cannot be divided into parts that one wishes to keep and parts that one wants to discard.

Sanchez concurred, describing the UK's 2016 decision to leave the EU as a significant loss for both the British people and the European project as a whole. He suggested that if the UK were to rejoin, Spain would be delighted and open its doors to the country.

The European Commission spokesperson, Balazs Ujvari, confirmed the EU's open-mindedness towards the UK's potential return, stating that it is up to the British government to outline its preferred relationship with the EU. Ujvari reiterated the EU's readiness to engage on any options the UK might propose.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in a separate interview, suggested that Britain could opt for various paths in its relationship with the EU, ranging from maintaining the current status to rejoining the single market or a customs union. He acknowledged that Brexit has caused more harm than good and pledged to present different options closer to a summit in November.

While recent polls indicate a majority of Britons favor rejoining the EU, reintroducing the Euro or contributing to the EU budget is likely to provoke significant opposition. Moreover, the UK will not regain the same privileges it enjoyed as a member state.

For now, Burnham remains committed to his 2024 Labour Party manifesto, which did not endorse rejoining the EU or other related policies. However, he could advocate for a stronger EU connection during the upcoming general election, which is scheduled for August 2029.