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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have voiced support for the possibility of the United Kingdom rejoining the EU—but neither statement is an EU decision, and the UK has not been shown to have applied. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reopened the question and said rejoining is one option to consider, not announced a settled plan to seek membership.
What Macron and Sánchez said
At a joint press conference in Madrid on 30 September 2026, Macron responded to the prospect of a UK return with the words “Welcome back.” He added, conditionally, that if Britons wanted to return and the prime minister was moving in that direction, he believed it would be good news for Britain and Europeans. The Guardian reported the exchange; an official transcript or recording was not located in the available sources, so the quotation should be understood as reported speech. The Guardian’s account of Macron’s remarks.
Sánchez said Spain would open its arms to any UK bid to rejoin. These are expressions of support from two national leaders. Neither can approve UK membership on behalf of the EU or bind its other member states.
What Burnham has—and has not—proposed
Burnham told the Labour conference that the UK could not set a clear long-term course without deciding its relationship with what he described as its largest market. He also said Brexit had done more harm than good, and later said rejoining was among the options to consider. Reports describe this as reopening the debate, not announcing an immediate application or a concluded government policy to rejoin. The Guardian’s report on Burnham’s comments; Le Monde’s report.
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The distinction matters: considering membership is a political position; applying is a formal step under EU law. The sources establish the former, not the latter.
Would Macron’s or Sánchez’s welcome let the UK back in?
No. A political welcome does not replace the EU accession process. Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union says that a European state may apply to join if it respects the Union’s values and is committed to promoting them. The treaty specifically provides that a state which has withdrawn and seeks to rejoin is subject to that article.
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- The UK would have to apply. Article 49 sets out a request to the Council; public statements of support are not an application.
- EU institutions would have to approve the route. The Council must act unanimously after consulting the European Commission and obtaining the European Parliament’s consent.
- Admission conditions would have to be agreed. The treaty does not establish the UK’s future terms in advance.
- Every contracting state would have to ratify the resulting agreement. Ratification follows each state’s own constitutional requirements.
That means any return would require negotiations and approval across the EU, not simply an invitation from Paris or Madrid. The governing text is Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union.
Are closer EU–UK relations the same as accession talks?
No. A European Council president readout of Burnham’s first call, dated 21 July 2026, said the sides had agreed to strengthen EU–UK relations and referred to a second summit in Brussels later that year. It described cooperation and a summit agenda, not negotiations for UK membership. European Council readout of the call.
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Closer cooperation, discussion of alternative relationship models, a formal membership application, and completed accession are separate things. The reported discussion of options does not establish agreed terms for membership or for any alternative arrangement. The precise future model remains unsettled in the cited accounts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the status of a UK return?
- Political support: Macron and Sánchez have welcomed the possibility of a UK return.
- UK position: Burnham has included rejoining among options to consider and reopened the debate.
- Formal application: None is established by the cited sources.
- EU accession agreement: No agreed terms or completed accession process are established.
For now, “welcome back” describes a political reaction—not a membership decision. Any UK bid would still need to follow Article 49 and secure the required approvals and ratifications.
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