European leaders welcome potential UK EU re-entry following PM Burnham's remarks

French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have expressed openness to the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union. Their comments followed a speech by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who stated that Brexit has “done more harm than good” and proposed exploring new long-term relationship options.

Key details

• •During a joint press conference in Madrid, French President Emmanuel Macron stated "Welcome back" in English regarding the prospect of the UK returning to the EU, according to Deutsche Welle and The Guardian.
• •Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the BBC he is considering various paths, including maintaining the status quo, joining a customs union, rejoining the single market, or pursuing full EU membership.
• •According to The Guardian, EU officials indicated that while they welcome a change in tone, it remains the responsibility of the UK government to define its desired future relationship.
• •European Commission spokesperson Balazs Ujvari stated the EU remains open to engaging on options proposed by the UK, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
• •Macron emphasized that the UK cannot adopt an "a la carte" approach, noting that the country must accept the full conditions of the bloc if it chooses to return, according to Deutsche Welle.

Background

The UK officially left the EU following a 2016 referendum. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who recently delivered his first speech as leader at the Labour Party conference, has signaled a shift in tone regarding the UK's long-term relationship with its largest market.

Why it matters

A potential move to deepen ties or rejoin the EU could trigger a significant political debate within the UK. While public surveys suggest majority support for rejoining, potential requirements such as adopting the Euro or contributing to the EU budget remain unresolved points of contention.