Germany has become the latest European country to back Britain’s return to the EU following Andy Burnham’s suggestion Brexit could be reversed, reports BritPanorama.
Mr. Burnham has reopened Britain’s Brexit debate this week, stating it’s “possible” Labour’s next election manifesto could include a referendum on rejoining the EU. Germany’s ambassador to the UK, Susanne Baumann, expressed her support for the prime minister’s fresh approach to Europe in an interview published in the Telegraph.
“For us Germans, the UK is an integral part of Europe – its history, its present and its future. I was therefore glad to hear the prime minister speak about different options for the UK’s relationship with Europe,” Ms. Baumann said on Thursday.
Her comments come in light of backing from French President Emmanuel Macron and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for Britain returning to the EU. Macron described a potential return as “excellent news” and warned that there would be no “halfway house” for membership requirements.
“As for Great Britain, when it wants to re-engage with us, being on the outside poses a problem: you cannot pick and choose among the union’s freedoms, nor can you decide to take only what suits you while rejecting the rest,” he said during a joint press conference with Sanchez.
Before entering Downing Street, Mr. Burnham had indicated he wanted to see the UK back in the EU within his lifetime. Asked on Sky News whether he stood by this statement, he affirmed, “I said in my lifetime and I’ve said that I’m not going to pull back from that.”
The prime minister also mentioned that if public opinion was “pointing towards” backing re-entry, he could commit to holding a vote on the issue in the next manifesto, while not ruling out skipping a referendum to fight the next general election on a promise to rejoin.
However, former EU Brexit officials have cautioned that the UK would not enjoy “exceptional” terms if it decided to rejoin the EU. There is skepticism over the feasibility of rejoining on the same terms as before, highlighting potential obligations such as adopting the Euro and joining the Schengen passport-free zone, along with the likely absence of previously negotiated financial rebates.
The evolving stance on the UK’s relationship with the EU emphasizes the complexity of Brexit’s aftermath, with significant political shifts on both sides of the English Channel as discussions continue.
