Eurocrat says bloc is ready to discuss customs union with Britain after latest round of trade talks
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and EU Commisisoner Valdis Dombrovskis (Image: Getty)
Brussels would be “open-minded” to a customs union with Britain, the bloc’s finance chief has said. Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commissioner for Finance, said the EU is “ready to engage” if the UK wanted to look into the move.
Mr Dombrovskis made the comment after trade talks yesterday with ministers including Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Asked if Brussels would welcome talks on Britain rejoining the customs union, Dombrovskis told the BBC: “I cannot jump to conclusions, but I can say that we are ready to engage with an open mind and seek those areas of cooperation.”
The Chancellor hosted EU Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis and Maroš Šefčovič on Monday (Image: Getty)
He added that the EU was also “open to discuss different areas as regards a single market”.
It comes after Ms Reeves hosted Mr Dombrovskis and European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič, alongside cabinet ministers Peter Kyle and Nick Thomas Symonds, in 11 Downing Street yesterday.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “Keir Starmer and his Labour Government want to take us into the EU by the back door. His Cabinet are currently competing with each other over who can be the most pro-Europe.
“Labour are desperate for someone or something to blame for the disastrous impact of their economic incompetence, and so they are pointing the finger at Brexit and trying to reopen old wounds.
“It isn’t Brexit that has wrecked our economy and made us weaker on the international stage – it’s this disastrous Labour Government. Only the Conservatives are focused on the real challenges facing our country today, and on getting Britain working again.”
The Prime Minister has ruled out rejoining the EU’s customs union, but has said that aligning with the single market is “the place to look” in future negotiations.
It comes as the Daily Express has launched our “Give Us a Proper Brexit” campaign ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 referendum.
Our new crusade is calling for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), slash red tape for businesses and enforce a 12-mile exclusion zone around the UK for British fishing vessels only.
