EU ambassador says Brussels will engage once Britain defines its preferred future relationship
The European Union’s new ambassador to the United Kingdom, Jukka Salovaara, says Brussels is ready to discuss closer ties once the British government sets out what it wants. Potential areas include food standards, youth mobility, carbon-market links and security, while the scope of any future relationship remains open.
The European Union’s new ambassador to the United Kingdom, Jukka Salovaara, has said Brussels is ready to engage once Britain has debated and defined its preferred future relationship with the bloc. Salovaara described his role as that of a facilitator between London and Brussels. He said he would be close to any negotiations, while explaining each side to the other, but would not sit directly at the negotiating table.
His comments come as the government of Prime Minister Andy Burnham considers a wider range of options than the relationship pursued by his predecessor, Keir Starmer. Burnham has said the current arrangements are not working and that rejoining the EU should remain among the possibilities before Labour’s next election manifesto. The ambassador said the EU would wait for the UK to identify its objectives rather than establish a collective position in advance.
He noted that a fundamental change would generally benefit from strong political support, but said it was for Britain to decide whether that support required another referendum. A first EU summit involving Burnham is expected in November. Salovaara said discussions could cover food standards, linking carbon emissions trading schemes, youth mobility and security.
He said common food standards could reduce border checks, noting that nearly 60 per cent of British food exports go to the EU and 70 per cent of food imports come from the bloc. Negotiations over a possible youth experience scheme remain unresolved. EU officials say Britain has initially offered 50,000 places a year for people aged 18 to 30, while Brussels is seeking 150,000.
The terms covering work and study rights are also still being negotiated. Salovaara said other possible models included the single market, a customs union and new forms of associate membership. He cited proposals under discussion for broader relationships with the EU, while emphasising that the UK must first decide which options it wants to pursue.
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