Britain will rejoin the EU inside 15 years, former Brussels chief predicts
A former head of the European Union has predicted that Britain will rejoin the bloc ‘within 15 years.’
Romano Prodi, who served as President of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004, was speaking at the UCL Economics Centre for Finance in London when he was asked about Brexit.
In response, the veteran Italian politician said: ‘I’m betting that in 15 years the UK will come back.’
However, Sir Keir Starmer, who has previously advocated for a second referendum, has insisted the UK will not rejoin the EU in his lifetime.
Similarly, fellow former European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker – who steered the 27 member bloc through Brexit negotiations – also does not share Mr Prodi’s optimism.
Romano Prodi (pictured), who served as President of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004, was speaking at the UCL Economics Centre for Finance in London when he was asked about Brexit
Sir Keir Starmer, who has previously advocated for a second referendum, has insisted the UK will not rejoin the EU in his lifetime
European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. This week, the Labour government announced a major new defence deal with the EU’s most powerful and influential member – Germany
The Independent reported that speaking in July the former Prime Minister of Luxembourg said it would take ‘a century or two’ for Britain to rejoin.
So far in his premiership, Sir Keir has attempted to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with the EU. He previously pledged to ‘make Brexit work’ by renegotiating the deal agreed upon by Boris Johnson and the previous Tory government.
This week, the Labour government announced a major new defence deal with the EU’s most powerful and influential member – Germany.
Under the plans, German aircraft in the Luftwaffe will operate from a base in Britain and around 400 jobs are set to be created in a new munitions factory in the UK.
Post-Brexit relationships could yet still be testy after the EU issued a demand for continued fishing rights in British waters as the Labour government seeks to renegotiate a fair trade deal, its Brexit negotiator has told MEPs.
‘We have to ensure continued access to United Kingdom waters for EU fishing fleets,’ Maroš Šefčovič told the European Parliament.
The bloc’s fishing quota in British waters was slashed by a quarter in the wake of Brexit, but fishermen on the continent were given access to certain coastal waters subject to rolling agreements.
With the existing deal set to expire in 2026, British fishermen and government officials fear that Labour could concede rights in exchange for a better trading deal with the EU.
Sir Keir with current European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. So far in his premiership, Sir Keir has attempted to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with the EU. He previously pledged to ‘make Brexit work’ by renegotiating the deal agreed upon by Boris Johnson and the previous Tory government
Former European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured) – who steered the 27 member bloc through Brexit negotiations – said in July it would take ‘a century or two’ for Britain to rejoin
Brussels was said to be preparing a list of ‘offensive interests’ to use in talks with the new Labour government as early as July, with access to British fishing waters expected to be one of the main points of contention in talks.
Under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, 25 per cent of the overall existing EU quota in UK waters will be transferred back to the UK over the course of several years through until June 30, 2026.
After this, negotiations were to take place on an annual basis, leaving room for agreements spanning several years.
Back in Westminster, Starmer might have to expect calls for closer relations from the opposition and backbenchers alike after MPs formed a new cross-party group to urge Labour to re-examine the country’s EU relationship.
The first meeting of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Europe, chaired by Dr Rosena Allin-Khan and Tory peer Lord Kirkhope, took place on Tuesday.
