Portugal supports potential UK return to EU but calls it premature

Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel stated that Portugal would be a leading supporter of the United Kingdom’s eventual return to the European Union, though he described discussions regarding re-accession as premature at this stage.

Speaking in London following a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Rangel emphasized that the immediate priority should be strengthening relations between London and the EU-27. He noted that progress must be demonstrated through tangible results, particularly during the upcoming EU-UK summit scheduled for November 20 in Brussels.

The summit is expected to involve key leaders, including the European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to review cooperation in sectors such as defense, energy, and agri-food standards. A specific point of interest is the ‘Made in Europe’ program; the UK is seeking to include British companies in this initiative, which currently prioritizes European firms for public contracts and subsidies in strategic industries like steel, cement, aluminum, and automotive manufacturing.

Rangel cautioned that any future integration would require the United Kingdom to meet a specific set of criteria and obligations, asserting that the UK cannot simply choose benefits from the bloc ‘à la carte’ without fulfilling necessary requirements.