During a visit to Spain, French President Emmanuel Macron stated it would be "good news" if the United Kingdom moves towards rejoining the European Union, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also expressing support for the idea. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has not ruled out the possibility of rejoining the bloc.
Macron, while in Madrid, responded to the notion of the UK rejoining with the phrase: "Welcome back." He added, "If the British want to come back and if the prime minister is moving in that direction, I think that is very good news both for his country and for Europeans."
However, Macron emphasized that the UK cannot adopt an a la carte approach to its relationship with the EU while remaining outside the bloc. He stated, "You cannot choose between the freedoms of the union and decide to take what suits us and not the rest."
Sanchez remarked that the UK's departure from the EU following the 2016 referendum was "a huge loss, both for the British population and for the whole European project." He indicated that if the UK attempts to rejoin, "then of course Spain would applaud it and open its arms again to a brotherly people."
European Commission spokesperson Balazs Ujvari commented separately, stating, "The UK is a close and valued partner of the European Union. It is for the UK government to set out how it wishes to develop its relationship with the EU going forward. We remain open to engaging on the options it may put forward."
In an interview with the BBC earlier on Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham discussed various options for the UK's relationship with the EU. He mentioned, "We could stay as we are. That's definitely an option, if people think this is the right place to stay," while also noting that one option could be to "go all the way."
Burnham suggested other possibilities, including rejoining the EU's single market or establishing a customs union between the UK and the EU. In a speech at the annual Labour Party conference on Tuesday, he stated that "Brexit has done more harm than good" and indicated he would outline "different options" for the UK-EU relationship ahead of a summit in November.
A decision to move closer to or rejoin the EU could lead to significant political debate in the UK. Recent public surveys indicate that a majority of Britons support rejoining, but the adoption of the Euro or contributions to the EU budget could provoke strong opposition. Additionally, the UK may not receive the same exemptions it had while previously a member of the EU.
Currently, Burnham is committed to the 2024 Labour Party manifesto, which excludes rejoining the EU and other elements such as returning to the EU single market. However, he could advocate for a closer relationship with the EU in the next general election, scheduled for no later than August 2029.