Where is the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. How would a possible return to the European bloc be viewed
Two of the most important Labor politicians aspiring to the leadership of Great Britain have returned to the center of public debate the topic of the relationship between London and the European Union.
Labor wants to bring the United Kingdom back into the EU/PHOTO: EPA/EFE
Wes Streeting, former health secretary and potential candidate to succeed Keir Starmer as leader of the Labor Party, described Brexit as a “catastrophic mistake” and said the UK should return to the EU.
For his part, Andy Burnham, the Labor mayor of Greater Manchester, said he saw “a long-term case” for redistricting, although he did not support such an immediate move.
Their statements reflect a change in tone in a debate that, for almost a decade, has remained one of the most sensitive topics in British politics, writes The Guardian.
London–Brussels relationship: promises of reset, limited results
After his election victory in 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised a “reset” of relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, with the aim of overcoming the years of tensions and disputes that followed Brexit.
A year on, Starmer hailed the UK-EU summit in London as a diplomatic success, saying the new deal gives Britain “unprecedented access to the EU market” and will help lower energy and food costs.
After Labour's poor results in this month's local elections, the Prime Minister reiterated that his mandate will be “defined by rebuilding the relationship with Europe”.
However, concrete progress remains limited.
The UK has returned to the European Horizon research program and is due to participate in Erasmus+ again from 2027, at least temporarily. But many of the key negotiations are moving slowly.
Talks on a youth mobility scheme — which would allow Britons to work and study temporarily in EU states and vice versa — are stalled by disputes over university fees for European students.
In parallel, Great Britain's integration into the European electricity market is being delayed by London's refusal to contribute to the EU's cohesion funds. Negotiations on Britain's participation in the European defense procurement fund SAFE also failed due to financial differences.
The British government hopes to finalize agreements on agri-food products, the carbon market and the youth mobility scheme by the next EU-UK summit scheduled for this summer. However, experts believe that these agreements will not fundamentally change the economic relationship between the two parties.
London's “Red Lines”.
The main obstacle to a deeper rapprochement is the Labor government's own political boundaries imposed before the election.
Keir Starmer has ruled out returning to the customs union, re-entering the European single market and restoring freedom of movement.
For Brussels, however, getting closer to the EU inevitably implies a closer alignment with European rules and standards.
Even the British government's moderate proposals — such as legislation that would allow automatic harmonization with certain European rules — have been heavily criticized by the Reform UK party and the Conservatives, who accuse the executive of “undoing Brexit through the back door”.
Britain is moving closer to the EU again: the government is preparing a key law to align with European rules
Most economists believe that the sectoral deals negotiated so far will have little impact on the UK economy and will not offset the estimated 6%–8% loss in economic output caused by Brexit by the first quarter of 2025.
In a speech after the local elections, Starmer admitted that “incremental changes are no longer enough” and that the current context required “a broader response”. However, as far as the relationship with the EU is concerned, such a step would involve crossing one's own “red lines”.
Any truly meaningful deal — including a possible return to the single market — would involve accepting freedom of movement for European citizens, a subject the British government continues to avoid addressing.
How Europe would view an eventual return of Great Britain
The geopolitical context of 2026 is radically different from that of 2016, when the British voted to leave the European Union.
Russia's war against Ukraine, the deterioration of the special relationship between London and Washington, and pressures on the rules-based international order have shifted strategic priorities on the continent.
Analysts say both the EU and the UK would benefit from a deep reconsideration of their relationship, particularly in the areas of security and the economy.
A YouGov poll published last month shows that 63% of Britons support closer relations with the European Union, and 55% would support a return to the bloc.
And in the main member states — including Germany, France, Spain and Italy — there are majorities in favor of an eventual return of Britain.
However, European leaders have repeatedly said that London would not benefit from the special conditions it had before Brexit.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said the UK would no longer receive the previous waivers, nor the famous budget rebate negotiated in the past. In addition, Brussels could request the accession of Great Britain to the euro zone.
Sikorski also said that London has not yet fully accepted the “fundamental European compromise”: deeper integration involves sharing some sovereignty and following collectively set rules.
There are also fears that a future Eurosceptic government, such as one led by Reform UK, could try to overturn any new deal with the EU. For this reason, some Member States may require the introduction of safeguard clauses and sanctions.
However, the new European strategic reality means that any possible request by Great Britain to return to the European Union will, at the very least, be taken seriously.
