Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, told a conference in Brussels that she felt a “new beginning” had arrived. 39; between the UK and the EU Photo: OLIVIER HOSLETT/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK
The United Kingdom must reunite with the European Union to “fix” Brexit, Ursula von der Leyen said after the Labor Party pledged to forge closer ties with the bloc if it elections.
The President of the European Commission said “we screwed up” when asked in Brussels on Tuesday evening whether Britain could ever reverse Brexit.
She spoke amid significantly improved relations with Britain following Rishi Sunak's signing of a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland in February and the shock victory of Geert Wilders, who wants the Netherlands to leave the EU, in the Dutch elections last week.
“First of all, thank God, thanks to the Windsor Treaty we have a new beginning for old friends. Very important,” Ms von der Leyen said at an event organized by the website Politico.
“And then I have to say, I keep telling my children: you have to fix this. We're screwed. You must fix this. So I think the direction of movement here too, my personal opinion is clear.”
There is no expectation that Britain will ask to rejoin the EU any time soon, a long and complex process that could take many years.
But Sir Keir Starmer has promised a major policy rewrite after Brexit. trade relations if Labor wins the general election expected to take place next year.
EU will enforce Brussels rules on UK
Labor insists the UK will not be a «legislator» if it negotiates a new deal.
But the EU will require the UK to comply with Brussels rules in exchange for an agreement on animal and plant health standards.
This veterinary agreement would cut red tape in UK trade with the EU and Northern Ireland, but has been rejected by the EU. Tory for reasons of sovereignty.
Mr Sunak began repairing strained relations with the EU after becoming prime minister in October 2022.
He has assessed that closer relations are needed for economic reasons. during the cost of living crisis and for geopolitical reasons following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
The UK and EU were at loggerheads over the Irish Sea border until the Windsor Framework was agreed, which calmed the tensions that had led to threat of a trade war.
Brussels has since approved Britain's participation in the post-Brexit war. Horizon, its flagship research program and the Copernicus space programme.
DUP talks are in the «final, final stage»
Mr Sunak, a Brexiteer, is viewed with suspicion by some Conservative backbenchers who fear he will sacrifice sovereignty. which was achieved with great difficulty in difficult Brexit negotiations.
His agreement with the Windsor Framework did not persuade the DUP to abandon its 21-month boycott of Stormont, which has delayed action on the economy and health.
Negotiations between the DUP and the government were at an end. the final, final stages,» Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland's secretary of state, said on Tuesday evening.
David Jones, a former cabinet minister, said: «Ms von der Leyen must understand that the British are not children. These are adults who have decided to exercise their treaty right to leave the EU.
“She should also consider why so many EU member states are unhappy with Brussels' continued acquisition of powers at their expense.”
Marc Francois, chairman of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs said that Mrs von der Leyen needs to «come to terms with Brexit».
«If Ursula von der Leyen thinks Britain is going to rejoin the creaking EU, she can go whistle 'Ode to Joy,'» he said . said, referring to the EU anthem.
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