France and Spain Welcome UK Rejoining EU After Burnham's Proposal
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have welcomed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's suggestion that Britain should consider rejoining the EU or its single market. Burnham told the BBC that Brexit had "done more harm than good" and failed to deliver on promises of taking back control. Macron called the prospect "very good news" but warned Britain cannot cherry-pick membership benefits. An EU-UK summit is planned for November in Brussels to discuss future relations.
Key Points
- Burnham outlined three options at a UK-EU summit: full EU membership, rejoining the single market, or entering a customs union
- Macron said in English alongside Sanchez in Madrid: "Welcome back," adding the move would benefit both Britain and Europe
- Sanchez described Brexit as a "huge loss" for the UK population and Europe, stating Spain would "certainly welcome" Britain's return
- Macron bristled at the idea of Britain cherry-picking which parts of EU membership it wanted, signalling conditional European support
- An EU-UK summit originally scheduled for July but postponed after Keir Starmer's resignation is now planned for November in Brussels
Why It Matters
The remarks mark a significant shift in European sentiment toward Britain, 10 years after the Brexit referendum. While European officials have long been wary of UK overtures, the prospect of Burnham's Labour government exploring closer ties has revived optimism about possible reconciliation. The planned November summit will test whether rhetoric can translate into concrete action on carbon markets, food trade, and agricultural cooperation between the two sides.
The remarks mark a significant shift in European sentiment toward Britain, 10 years after the Brexit referendum. While European officials have long been wary of UK overtures, the prospect of Burnham's Labour government exploring closer ties has revived optimism about possible reconciliation. The planned November summit will test whether rhetoric can translate into concrete action on carbon markets, food trade, and agricultural cooperation between the two sides.