Spain, France align on welcoming UK back to EU, strengthening China trade defences
The leaders said Europe should tighten safeguards against Chinese competition and seek more flexibility in EU spending as budget talks approach.
- On Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and French President Emmanuel Macron met at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, expressing enthusiasm for British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's proposal that Britain rejoin the European Union.
- British Prime Minister Andy Burnham floated the prospect of Britain rejoining the bloc in an interview earlier Wednesday, which Macron described as "excellent news" and a "good decision."
- Addressing economic concerns, the leaders agreed Europe must strengthen trade defenses against China, with Macron stating, "If we are not united as Europeans, we have no possibility of success."
- Ahead of October budget negotiations, the two nations called for greater flexibility from Brussels, with Sanchez appealing for "a little more empathy" for governments "on the frontlines trying to respond to citizens' concerns."
- Both nations are preparing for elections next year as the far right gains momentum, with Sanchez describing their partnership as leaders of Europe's "resistance to enemies of our continent and the European model.
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33 Articles
Green party says Britain's potential re-entry should be welcomed as debate over closer ties with Europe gains momentum
Spain's PM welcomes Burnham's openness to UK rejoining EU
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has welcomed the fact that his British counterpart is attempting to recalibrate the UK's relationship with the EU, calling Britain a "sister nation" and stressing that "Brexit was a huge loss".
UK joining EU again? France's Macron, Spanish leader say would ‘welcome back’ Britain after PM Andy Burnham floats idea
Andy Burnham, who became UK's PM in July after Keir Starmer resigned, said Britain could consider several options for resetting its relationship with the EU.
"It's positive and it reflects a long-awaited change of tone," said a European official at the AFP, under the guise of anonymity. "But we're not going to change our approach simply because there's a nice sound background," he immediately added. "Welcome back!", on his side Emmanuel Macron. But the little smile displayed by the French president also reflected a certain form of satisfaction, tinted with irony, ten years after a referendum that end…
London. French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday delivered a message to the United Kingdom: “welcome back” (welcome back), after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham opened the debate on a possible return to the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, Spanish government president Pedro Sánchez said that his country would also receive them “with open arms.”
British Prime Minister Burnham has initiated reflections on the country's return to the European Union. French President Macron called the idea on Wednesday "a very good news, both for their country and for Europeans."
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