President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday publicly endorsed the idea that the United Kingdom might one day return to the European Union, responding warmly to remarks by British politician Andy Burnham.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Madrid with Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, Macron smiled and said in English: “Welcome back.” He continued in French, adding: “If the British want to come back and if the prime minister is moving in that direction, I think that is very good news, both for his country and for the Europeans.”
Macron’s comments came after Burnham suggested that the UK could, at some point, seek to rejoin the bloc after its 2016 vote to leave. The French president’s public encouragement signals a receptive tone from at least some senior EU leaders to the idea of deeper future relations with Britain.
The exchange took place against the backdrop of ongoing European debates about integration and cooperation following the UK’s withdrawal. While Macron’s remarks were broadly positive, any formal move by the UK to re-enter the EU would involve complex political and legal processes and would need to be discussed and negotiated by member states.
For now, Macron’s statement is notable mainly for its tone: a clear invitation in contrast to the acrimony that marked much of the Brexit process. It underscores that relations between EU capitals and London remain a live political issue, with leaders weighing the potential benefits of renewed ties alongside the diplomatic and practical hurdles such a return would entail.