A senior EU official has warned that Britain would face “difficult” negotiations if it sought to rejoin the bloc, saying member states remain deeply affected by the way the UK left.
Brussels’ foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas appeared to signal that the EU will take a tough negotiating stance as she met Defence Secretary Wes Streeting in Belgium this morning.
With Andy Burnham due to attend an EU summit later this month, Ms Kallas indicated that he may have to offer significant concessions to a continent still “traumatised” by Brexit.
Mr Burnham is already embroiled in a major dispute over how far Labour intends to go in reversing the consequences of the 2016 referendum, with divisions emerging even within his own Cabinet.
Mr Streeting, regarded as one of the Cabinet’s strongest Remainers, acknowledged at a press conference in Brussels that EU membership was “not an on and off switch” and that rejoining remained some way away.
Ms Kallas, Estonia’s former prime minister, then said: “There are also many people here in the European Union who have been traumatised by Brexit, so these negotiations will be difficult.
“But we are not there yet.”
Her comments came as reports suggested Mr Burnham was prepared to commit £450million of taxpayers’ money each year to subsidise EU students at UK universities as part of a wider agreement.
Brussels’ foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas appeared to prepare the ground for tough negotiations as she met Defence Secretary Wes Streeting in Belgium this morning
The Prime Minister is reportedly ready to offer the funding in return for Brussels allowing British companies to take part in its “Made in Europe” programme at a summit later this month
Former Chancellor Rachel Reeves supported the Prime Minister’s position on closer EU ties, days after her successor in No11, John Healey, adopted a more Eurosceptic stance
The Prime Minister is reportedly willing to provide the money in exchange for Brussels allowing British companies to join its “Made in Europe” programme at an EU-UK summit later this month.
The initiative gives European businesses priority for public contracts and subsidies, while the UK wants carmakers and other manufacturers to be included.
Reports at the weekend also indicated that the number of EU students and young adult workers eligible to come to Britain through a youth mobility scheme had risen to almost 80,000 a year.
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However, offering to cover EU students’ tuition fees is likely to trigger a fierce backlash while British students are already protesting over university costs and the burden of student loans.
At the weekend, former Chancellor Rachel Reeves endorsed the Prime Minister’s approach to potentially strengthening ties with the EU, arguing that Brexit had left the UK “poorer, weaker and less secure”.
Her comments came days after her successor in No11, John Healey, took a more Eurosceptic position.
On tuition fees, a source told The Guardian: “We are willing to give the Europeans what they want on fees, but we will need to secure something significant in return.
“The biggest prize we are pursuing at the moment is access to Made in Europe, so there is a deal to be done.”
Mr Burnham is seeking agreements on food and drink, emissions trading and a youth mobility scheme at the November 20 summit in Brussels.
But he has told ministers that the period beyond that would be to ‘explore options’ for the long-term relationship.
Any options on Britain’s future relationship with Brussels will eventually be put to the public, but the Prime Minister last week warned individual ministers it would not be appropriate ‘to advocate for specific options or opine on the likely outcome of the process’.
Reports at the weekend suggested the number of EU students and young adult workers who could come to Britain under a youth mobility scheme has also crept up towards 80,000 a year
In a letter to his Cabinet, Mr Burnham said any ‘fundamental change’ to post-Brexit arrangements would be ‘for the public to decide’ and left to the next parliament.
Ms Reeves, who was sacked as chancellor by Mr Burnham when he took office, said: ‘I am proud of the progress we have already made in strengthening our relationship with the European Union.
‘Brexit has made us poorer, weaker and less secure.
‘There is a debate to be had about our future relationship with Europe, and I welcome Andy Burnham’s leadership in facing up to this. No one in the Treasury ever doubted where my instincts were.’
Although Ms Reeves said she believed ‘Britain’s future lies in the European Union,’ she stressed it was ‘incumbent on supporters of our re-entry to make the argument, demonstrate tangible benefits and to get the next steps right’.