World


Macron, Sánchez welcome UK return to EU as Burnham floats Brexit reversal

Madrid, Sep 30(UNI) French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday welcomed the prospect of Britain rejoining the European Union, days after new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham raised the possibility of returning to the bloc.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Madrid, where Sánchez is hosting Macron on a two-day visit, Macron said Britain would be welcomed if it chose to reverse Brexit.
"Welcome back," Macron said in English before adding, "If the British want to come back ... I think that is very good news, both for his country and for Europeans."
Calling a return "a good decision", Macron said Burnham was right to "have that boldness"."In any case, we will be there to try to make things work," he added.
Sánchez also expressed support for a possible British return, describing Brexit as a "huge loss of the British people and the European project as a whole".Spain would welcome Britain back "with open arms" if London decided to rejoin the bloc, he said.
Macron also addressed the large influx of migrants into Ceuta, the Spanish territory in North Africa, in late July. He said Spain had not organised the crossings but was instead a "victim of an attack", arguing that the situation required solidarity from other European countries.
"I am surprised that many Europeans did not show this solidarity, even though they had benefited from it when they had faced the same events," Macron said.
He also called for closer European security cooperation, saying, "We must continue improving our coordination among European countries and within the European Union, particularly within the Schengen area, so that we can collectively improve."
Sánchez, according to Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser, apologised to Macron over the Spanish Senate's refusal to approve a friendship treaty with France.
He also warned against growing effort to "make Europeans renounce our democratic values and social cohesion" and turn Europe into a bloc "divided, at odds with each other, and dependent on foreign interests."
Sánchez called for greater European unity and solidarity, while stressing that Spain and France shared positions on the conflicts in the Middle East, including Iran and Gaza, as well as on Ukraine.
He reaffirmed their commitment to international law and the multilateral order "faced with the law of the strongest and the allure of authoritarianism."
Macron has criticized the idea of creating deportation centers, or “return hubs,” for irregular migrants outside the European Union, saying France would oppose efforts for the bloc to fund such facilities.
The proposed return hubs, located outside the EU’s borders, are a key part of the bloc’s efforts to tighten migration and accelerate the return of people who have no legal right to remain. The policy has faced criticism from human rights groups.“France does not support that policy,” Macron said.
“I’m not sure that’s the Europe we want. I’m not sure those are the fundamental principles on which our Europe was built. And I don’t believe, for that matter, that it’s effective. The proof is that, so far, I haven’t seen anyone make it work.”
Macron said France supports stricter rules aimed at increasing the return of people without the right to stay to their countries of origin, but stressed that France would not establish or build return hubs.UNI AAB
More News

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was wounded in stabbing by flydubai co-pilot who attempted to crash plane

01 Oct 2026 | 12:05 AM

Jerusalem/New Delhi, Sep 30 (UNI) One of the heroes of the day in the drama aboard the flydubai flight is Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, the captain of the aircraft that the Omani co-pilot attempted to crash. Captain Machchhar was wounded by the stabbing during the physical struggle with the attacker, who was serving as the co-pilot.

see more..

Nepal-India holding productive talks on finalising PM Balendra Shah's India visit: Nepal FM Shishir Khanal

30 Sep 2026 | 10:12 PM

Kathmandu, Sep 30 (UNI) Nepal and India are holding positive discussions on Prime Minister Balendra Shah's proposed visit to New Delhi, although no date has yet been finalised, Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said on Wednesday.

see more..

NATO chief Mark Rutte dismisses concerns of immediate Russian threat to alliance

30 Sep 2026 | 9:38 PM

Brussels, Sep 30 (UNI) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has dismissed concerns over an immediate Russian threat to the alliance, saying Moscow's recent nuclear warning over Kaliningrad should not be taken seriously and accusing Russia of trying to divert attention from its difficulties in Ukraine.

see more..

Israeli National Security Minister Ben Gvir calls to intensify operations in the region post flydubai incident

30 Sep 2026 | 9:11 PM

Jerusalem, Sep 30 (UNI) Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Wednesday called for an escalation of Israel’s military campaigns across the region after a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia following a serious incident in the cockpit.

see more..

Macron, Sánchez welcome UK return to EU as Burnham floats Brexit reversal

30 Sep 2026 | 7:50 PM

Madrid, Sep 30(UNI) French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday welcomed the prospect of Britain rejoining the European Union, days after new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham raised the possibility of returning to the bloc.

see more..