Chancellor Healey plans to raise a request with European Union finance ministers for the United Kingdom to be admitted to the EU's Made in Europe programme, government officials said.
He said the initiative should be used to "deepen ties with the UK rather than erecting new barriers", framing participation as an opportunity to strengthen economic and industrial links between the UK and EU after years of post-Brexit separation.
The Made in Europe programme is presented by its backers as an industry-focused scheme. Healey's approach signals a diplomatic push to secure practical cooperation on industrial policy and supply chains, rather than leaving such matters to separate or competing frameworks.
If EU ministers agree to consider UK participation, the decision will be watched closely by businesses on both sides of the Channel. Supporters in the UK argue that closer integration on industry initiatives could benefit firms and reduce friction in trade and investment. Critics may view the move through the prism of broader political negotiations over the shape of post-Brexit relations.
Healey’s intervention adds to a series of recent contacts between UK and EU officials aimed at rebuilding functional ties. The outcome will depend on agreement among EU member states and on how participation terms are defined, reflecting wider questions about cooperation on economic and industrial matters.