The EU has given a cool reception to the idea of Britain rejoining – Euractiv
European officials and diplomats in Brussels and London have expressed surprise at the sudden emergence of statements from the UK regarding a return to the EU, with most capitals showing no interest in resuming full-scale negotiations.
This was reported to Euractiv by informed sources.
Despite internal discussions within the upper echelons of the UK’s ruling Labour Party regarding a possible rapprochement with the bloc, the European side currently shows no desire to accelerate this process. According to the publication, only France, Ireland, and the Netherlands are paying some attention to these developments, while the rest of the EU has no active interest in a radical overhaul of the current post-Brexit trade agreement, considering it to be quite stable.
European officials have rejected the latest proposals from London, calling them “inconsistent” and akin to attempts at “cherry-picking” without fulfilling the accompanying obligations. In particular, the plan to create a common market for goods, which was put forward earlier this month by the UK’s chief negotiator Michael Ellam, drew criticism. Brussels noted that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s team appears to be completely ignoring all the previous difficult experience of Brexit negotiations, which does nothing to promote productive dialogue between the parties.
The UK has proposed creating a single market for trade in goods with the European Union, which could mark a new phase in the reset of post-Brexit relations. The initiative has not yet gained traction due to EU skepticism, but London insists on a more ambitious format for cooperation.
On January 1, 2021, the United Kingdom completed the process of leaving the EU, which began in late January 2020.
