France and Spain have welcomed the possibility of the United Kingdom eventually returning to the European Union, following renewed discussion in Britain over its long-term relationship with the bloc.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said Britain should consider a range of options for its future relationship with the EU. These include maintaining the current arrangement, pursuing closer economic ties through the customs union or single market, or potentially seeking full EU membership.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
France has welcomed the possibility of a future UK return to the EU.
Spain has also expressed support for a British return.
Andy Burnham has said Britain should consider several future options for its relationship with Europe.
Full EU membership is among the possibilities being discussed.
The UK has not formally decided to rejoin the European Union.
A future return would require a formal accession process.
Burnham said the options would need to be assessed on their practical feasibility and the advantages and disadvantages for Britain. He has also indicated that any decision on a future referendum or formal return to the EU is not imminent.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the possibility of a British return, describing it as positive news for both Britain and Europe.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also expressed support, saying Spain would welcome Britain back into the European Union.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The statements from France and Spain indicate that some major European governments would welcome a future British return to the EU. For Britain, closer European integration could have significant implications for trade, investment, economic regulation, migration and broader cooperation. However, returning to the EU would be substantially different from simply improving post-Brexit cooperation. It would require extensive negotiations and agreement among EU member states.
Macron, however, stressed that Britain could not return on a selective basis by choosing only certain EU benefits. Full membership would involve accepting the wider obligations and rules of the European Union.
The renewed discussion comes more than six years after Britain formally left the European Union following the 2016 Brexit referendum.
