Macron welcomes the possibility of Britain rejoining the EU: “Welcome back

Emmanuel Macron has said that the United Kingdom’s return to the European Union would be good news for London and for Europe. The French president’s comments came after remarks by Andy Burnham, who said that Britain could also consider the possibility of full EU membership.

“Welcome back,” Macron said in English during a press conference in Madrid, where he appeared alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

The French president said that a move by the British government toward rejoining the union would be a positive development. He also praised Burnham’s position, describing his decision to open a discussion about the future of Britain’s relations with Europe as “courageous.”

Pedro Sánchez expressed a similar view. The Spanish prime minister said that Spain would welcome any initiative by the United Kingdom to move closer to the European Union or to become part of it again.

Andy Burnham has called on London to review its long-term relationship with the European market. According to him, Brexit “has done more harm than good,” while Britain should consider various alternatives, ranging from maintaining the current relationship to fully rejoining the EU.

European Union officials have stressed that the decision on the type of relationship with the bloc belongs to the United Kingdom itself. The European Commission has said that it remains ready to discuss any option that London may put forward.

The alternatives mentioned include moving closer to the customs union, as well as joining the European single market. Each of these choices would bring different obligations for Britain, including adapting to the EU’s rules and trade policies.

Participation in the single market would also mean respecting its four fundamental freedoms: the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

Macron warned that Britain could not choose only the elements of its relationship with the EU that suited it. “You cannot choose between the freedoms of the union,” he said, adding that such a relationship would require Britain’s willingness to return.

Meanwhile, in the second half of November, the EU and the United Kingdom are expected to meet at a summit in Brussels. The future of relations between the two sides is expected to be one of the main topics of the meeting.

Discussions about a new rapprochement with the European Union are taking place more than a decade after the Brexit referendum, which paved the way for the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU.