The three pitfalls Burnham faces ahead of Brussels summit

The upcoming summit between the United Kingdom and European Union is set to be a major test for Andy Burnham. The Prime Minister has been vocal about his thoughts on Brexit and a potential realignment of the UK’s relationship with the EU. Since Brexit was completed in 2020, this relationship is governed by a set of agreements. These include the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Agreement in relation to Gibraltar.

Burnham, however, has made it clear that he is open to a readjustment of the posr-Brexit relationship, although it is still unclear what that might look like. Plus, with Labour leading in the polls, Burnham may use this popularity to set the wheels in motion. Each summit, the first of which was held in 2025 and saw a new strategic partnership agreed, is a new chance to redefine individual deals and elements of the relationship. Three subjects up for discussion at the UK-EU summit On November 20 the Prime Minister will meet António Costa, president of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, in Brussels for the second event.

The Government says the UK will push for deals to “cut costs and red tape for British farmers and businesses, support industry and boost growth in every part of the country”. Decisions will have to be made on a range of subjects, but the three main ones include food, emissions trading and youth mobility, and it is thought that deals will be agreed at this summit. It is expected that the Erasmus+ programme, which allows students from the UK to study in Europe, will be one area where a deal will be confirmed, although the university tuition fees remains unresolved, with any concessions to the EU will need to be balanced against domestic political and financial pressures.

Reports suggest agreements will also be made on linking the EU and UK carbon markets , a deal that would allow manufacturers on both sides to avoid additional carbon border charges. Rules on food trade are also one of the major goals for the UK Government, and they hope to make deal on food standards in a bid to cut costs for British companies trading with Europe. When asked about EU food rules, Burnham told broadcasters: “What’s facing me two weeks on Friday is a UK-EU summit where I have the opportunity to add to UK growth.

It’s estimated up to 0.4 per cent extra on GDP. “I think people in Britain would expect me to take that with both hands, given where we’ve been in recent times, and that’s what I’m doing. We’re not in the EU, therefore, we do have to work with them in a different way. “But if that can get growth, if that can help our farmers, if that can remove red tape from British businesses, I think most people would expect me to go to that summit and negotiate the best deal that I can.”

However, Burnham’s recent statements on Brexit have caused many to suggest that this summit may lead to more discussions on the UK and EU’s relationship in general, and have wider ramifications. Burnham will meet with António Costa, President of the European Council (Photo: Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters) Will rejoining the EU be discussed? The Prime Minister has said he is open to a wider conversation about Britain’s future relationship with Europe, saying that he would like to see the see the UK rejoin the EU in his lifetime.

Burnham, who has insisted he would “not move ahead of the public” on the issue, added that he wants to look at the various options that could potentially be on the table for the UK and EU’s future relations, saying: “We have to look at what is doable and what would be the pros and cons of each.” At Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool last month , he said that Brexit had done “more harm than good” and that later this year he wanted to set out “what I believe the different options are for Britain’s long-term relationship with our European partners”.

A Government spokesperson insisted he isn’t suggesting a reversal of Brexit currently, adding : “The Prime Minister isn’t proposing a return to freedom of movement or any option. He is saying that it’s time for us to discuss what kind of long-term relationship with Europe is best for Britain, and he is referring to the types of areas that that agreement and long-term future could cover. But he is crucially not leaning either way, and that will be for the British public to decide.”

Options for the relationship between the UK and EU Other than a bespoke deal for Britain, the main options could include full rejoining the EU and reversing Brexit entirely; rejoining the customs union; or rejoining the single market. However, the European Union has freedoms that must be agreed to before any country gets access to the single market: free movement of goods, services and establishment, capital, and crucially, free movement of people.

Free movement of people, which gives EU citizens and workers the right to move, reside, study, and work in any member state, was a major debating point of the Brexit vote in 2016, and agreeing to that freedom would be politically controversial for many Brexit voters. Burnham has said he wants an “honest discussion” about the prospect of returning to free movement between the UK and EU, but he did agree to stick to Labour’s 2024 manifesto, with no return to freedom of movement, the EU single market or customs union before the next election.

Is the EU open to more discussion about the UK and EU’s relationship? The EU has expressed its hope about making more deals with the UK at this summit. António Costa said in a statement: “The European Union and the United Kingdom are like-minded partners, united by common values and shared interests. “Our security and prosperity are closely intertwined, making a strong partnership between us essential. By deepening our cooperation, we can strengthen our ability to address the challenges of our time, strengthen our resilience and promote stability in Europe and beyond.”

When it comes to the wider issue of the UK and the EU’s relationship, on the ground, those in Brussels see Burnham’s reopening of Brexit as a bold move, according to report. However, there is a wish for Burnham to clarify what he means and what Britain is willing to discuss. Sandro Gozi, a Member of the European Parliament, told Euronews : “Burnham now needs to clarify what he means. And on our side, we should show openness to engage in a new sort of partnership.”

The EU’s former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he felt the EU is unlikely to give up on its key red lines. He told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on Saturday: “I said very, very often during these negotiations, the Brexit, there is no cherry picking. “There will be no possibility to have one freedom and not the other. The four freedoms are clearly the four conditions to be inside a single market”. Mr Barnier also said that the EU would reject recreating the favourable financial terms Britain had with the EU, which were negotiated in 1985 and lowered the UK’s contributions to the bloc’s budget.

The Guardian also reported on Saturday that five European leaders have called for closer ties with Britain, including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Denmark.