British relations with the EU “not good enough” – Burnham rows back

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham hopes to conclude various agreements with the European Union at the EU-UK summit coming up in a few weeks. “Closer cooperation” is needed in many areas, the head of government told MPs in the British House of Commons. It is not enough to stick to the status quo, it is “not good enough”. “Worse, it would be a grave dereliction of duty to turn away.”

The EU-UK summit will take place in Brussels on November 20th. According to Burnham, a number of agreements that have already been planned will be advanced at the meeting, including agreements on trade in food and beverages and emissions trading. According to the Prime Minister, they also want to deepen cooperation in the area of ​​migration – one of the central topics of the summit for Burnham.

Burnham was recently the first British head of government since Brexit to speak specifically about the possibility of returning to the EU, but the path to get there would be long even if a decision were made to hold corresponding talks. Great Britain left the EU in January 2020.

The first aim at the summit was to achieve “a successful result,” said Burnham. Both sides could then have “a serious dialogue about the various options in the long term”. At all times, however, “the British public has the say”.