Macron urges UK to return to EU

French President Emmanuel Macron supported the idea of British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to return the country to the European Union. The British Prime Minister admitted that the abolition of Brexit could become one of the options for developing bilateral relations with Brussels in the future.

“If the British want to come back and if the prime minister is moving in that direction, I think it’s very good news for his country and for the Europeans,” Macron told a news conference in Madrid.

The French president referred to the restrictions the UK faces in seeking to get closer to the EU while remaining outside the union. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who was present at the press conference, called Brexit a huge loss for the British people and the entire European Union. He added that Spain would support Britain's return.

The UK launched the procedure for leaving the EU in March 2017 and completed the process on January 31, 2020. The country had been in union for 47 years. One of the reasons for this decision was concerns about uncontrolled migration. The British also supported Brexit because of concerns about the expansion of EU powers and the desire for decisions concerning Britain to be made at home.