IRIA News

5 minute read

French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that they would welcome the possibility of Britain rejoining the European Union and called for greater European unity in responding to Chinese competition on September 30, 2026.

The comments came during Macron’s two-day state visit to Spain, where the two leaders also discussed EU budget negotiations, Chinese investment, migration, European security and cooperation between France and Spain.

Macron described British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to consider different options for Britain’s future relationship with the EU, including possible membership, as “excellent news” and “a good decision.”

Sánchez said Spain would welcome Britain back if it chose to seek EU membership. “If we were to seek to rejoin, then of course Spain would applaud it and open its arms again to a brotherly people,” Sánchez said.

Macron Welcomes the Debate

Burnham said Britain should consider a range of options for its future relationship with the EU, including the possibility of eventually rejoining the bloc.

Macron said Britain had been a demanding but useful partner while it was an EU member and welcomed Burnham’s willingness to reconsider the relationship. “Andy Burnham is right to have this boldness,” Macron said.

¡Gracias, España, por recibirnos con tanta cercanía, reflejo de la relación que une a nuestros países! Tienen en Francia, con nosotros, amigos seguros, y por mucho tiempo. pic.twitter.com/Ggf3rhfdjN

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 30, 2026

The French president also said Britain could not seek only selected benefits from closer European integration while remaining outside the obligations that come with membership. “You cannot choose between the freedoms of the union and decide to take what suits us and not the rest,” he said.

The discussion comes a decade after Britain voted to leave the EU and six years after it formally left the bloc. Burnham has not announced a decision to seek immediate EU membership. His government is expected to examine different forms of cooperation with the bloc before a planned UK-EU summit in November.

France and Spain Seek Stronger Trade Defenses

Macron and Sánchez also called for a stronger European response to competition from China, particularly in strategic industries.

The two leaders stressed the importance of ensuring that Chinese investment in Europe provides appropriate commitments on technology transfer, especially in sectors such as automobiles.

Spain has actively sought Chinese investment in its automotive industry. Still, the policy has raised concerns among some stakeholders about safeguards and the impact of Chinese investment on European industrial capacity.

Macron said European countries needed to act together to protect industries facing what he described as unfair competition.

“On both sides of the Pyrenees we have actors who need to be protected when they suffer unfair competition…if we are not united as Europeans, we have no possibility of success,” Macron said.

The discussion reflects a wider EU debate over how to maintain economic relations with China while protecting European companies and strategic industries.

Budget Talks Put Pressure on EU Members

Sánchez and Macron also called for greater flexibility in negotiations over the EU’s next budget, with talks expected to intensify in October.

Sánchez appealed to Brussels for “a little more empathy” toward governments dealing with economic and social pressures at home.

France and Spain are among the countries concerned about proposals to reduce EU spending. Major net contributors, including Germany and the Netherlands, have pushed for tighter control over the bloc’s finances, while other governments have warned that significant cuts could reduce funding for agriculture and regional programs.

Agricultural support is particularly important for France and Spain, where farming remains a major economic and political issue.

The negotiations will have to balance demands for spending on agriculture and regional development with newer priorities including defense, industrial policy, infrastructure and economic competitiveness.

Migration and European Security

Migration was another major issue during Macron’s visit, following recent tensions surrounding Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta. Macron expressed solidarity with Spain and said European migration policy should combine stronger border protection with responsibility toward migrants and respect for EU law.

“The balance between solidarity and responsibility is very important,” he said, calling for stronger measures to protect Europe’s external borders.

Sánchez also highlighted French support for Spain during recent migration pressures and emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders also discussed European security and international affairs, with Sánchez calling for stronger cooperation between European governments.

He defended multilateralism and a rules-based international system, saying European cooperation was necessary to improve security. “A world without rules is a more insecure world for our citizens,” Sánchez said.

Friendship Treaty Creates Political Tension

Macron’s visit also took place after Spain’s Senate rejected a friendship and cooperation treaty with France on Tuesday. The treaty, signed by Sánchez and Macron in Barcelona in 2023, had already been approved by Spain’s lower house and ratified by France. The Senate rejected it by 142 votes to 106, with one abstention.

One disputed provision concerns an arrangement allowing ministers from one country to participate in certain government meetings of the other. Spain’s Constitutional Court ruled unanimously on September 23 that the treaty was compatible with the Spanish Constitution.

Sánchez apologized to Macron for the Senate vote and said Spain would seek to approve an agreement of this type before the end of the current parliamentary term. Despite the setback, both governments said they remained committed to close cooperation.

Macron and Sánchez presented stronger European coordination as necessary for addressing these issues, while also emphasizing the importance of bilateral cooperation between France and Spain.