Pedro Sánchez: Spain Would Welcome the United Kingdom Back into the EU “with Open Arms”

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said on Wednesday that his country would welcome the United Kingdom “with open arms” into the European Union, as the new British prime minister Andy Burnham reopened the debate on London’s future relationship with the bloc. The statement was made at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.

In an interview with the BBC, Burnham said that the United Kingdom must consider all available options, including a possible return to the EU. He specified that cooperation models should be assessed based on feasibility, as well as each one’s advantages and disadvantages.

The British prime minister intends to present these options at the summit between the United Kingdom and the European Union scheduled for November. Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer in July, previously said that he would like the United Kingdom to rejoin the EU during his lifetime and that the country cannot afford another decade of uncertainty.

The United Kingdom voted for Brexit in 2016, after more than four decades of EU membership. A YouGov poll conducted in June shows that 55% of Britons support rejoining, compared with 34% who oppose it.