Gozi said he understood it was “a very sensitive issue” for the UK, adding: “At least we should be ready to actively discuss this issue between the two sides, because I personally believe that providing opportunities to young British citizens and young EU citizens is something that is very important.”
Later this month he and members of his committee will travel to London to meet MPs and possibly cabinet ministers. “I hope that we can create a special partnership with the UK because there are existential challenges that we are both facing,” he said, citing war in Europe, the climate crisis, global governance and the crisis of multilateralism in an age of growing threats to liberal democracy. From a military point of view, the UK was “an unavoidable partner”, he added.
While Labour has set out ideas for improving EU relations in its manifesto, EU sources say they need to see detailed plans. Despite Labour’s matching of Conservative red lines – no single market or customs union – some EU sources describe the situation as akin to the post-referendum days of 2016, when it was unclear to Brussels what kind of relationship the UK wanted with the union.
