Andy Burnham has said the UK would be open to Germany joining its sixth-generation fighter jet programme as he sought deeper ties with the EU’s most influential member state during a visit to Berlin.
The UK prime minister said that he used a discussion with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to stress his willingness for Germany to become part of the Global Combat Aircraft Programme.
“That is something that we seek to progress in the coming period, working with our other partners Italy and Japan,” Burnham added after the collapse of a Franco-German fighter jet project left Germany searching for new partners.
He also outlined a new partnership countering so-called hybrid attacks, as part of an effort to intensify security and defence co-operation between “the biggest economies in Europe, the two biggest investors in defence”.
Burnham views Merz as a potential economic ally as he attempts to stop Britain being hit by new rules to protect the EU against competition from China and seeks to rebuild ties with the bloc.
Officials in London confirmed prior to the meeting — Burnham’s first visit to an EU capital since becoming prime minister in July — that industrial policy would be high on the agenda for Thursday’s talks.
Downing Street said that Burnham would discuss “economic resilience” and policies to “deliver shared prosperity”, using the visit to stress the importance of UK-German industrial co-operation and trade between the UK and EU.
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Andy Burnham meets German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Thursday
Germany’s support is vital for Burnham, as he prepares to set out “options” for a long-term relationship between the UK and the 27-country bloc, which he said could include an election promise to rejoin the customs union, single market or EU itself.
Merz did not publicly address Burnham’s declaration last week that he wanted to reopen a debate in the UK about the possibility of rejoining the EU.
But he said that, despite Britain having “unfortunately” left the bloc, Berlin was eager to pursue “friendship and bilateral co-operation” and wanted to use a treaty signed last year by the two countries to open up new opportunities.
He added that he was “truly delighted” to welcome the new British prime minister to Berlin.
Burnham, speaking alongside Merz, said he wanted an EU-UK summit, expected on November 20, to lead to “deeper co-operation” between the two sides and “bring the UK closer to Europe”.
Emmanuel Macron, French president, and Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, have both said Britain will be welcome back into the EU.
Burnham has said he will discuss Britain’s long-term options ahead of the November summit and then try to forge a national “consensus” ahead of the next election.
The prime minister said last month that the “Made in Europe” policy, which the EU is drawing up to shield the bloc from Chinese competition, risked inflicting “collateral damage” on the UK, including hurting cross-channel supply chains.
Germany has often pressed to include the UK in EU programmes, pushing back against Paris, which contends that such agreements should be reserved for member states only.
Berlin wants to include London in the Made in Europe rules, part of the so-called Industrial Accelerator Act the European Commission is drawing up.
The act will set local content and low-carbon requirements for public procurement and green subsidies. Berlin is advocating for a broad “trade partner” approach.
On Thursday France’s finance minister Roland Lescure told the BBC he wanted Britain to “come all the way” and rejoin the EU. “Come back, any time.”
Asked about French opposition to Britain to being a full member of the Made in Europe programme, Lescure said: “If the UK was part of Europe they would be at the table discussing that right now. Come back and you will be at the table and we can discuss all those things together.”
Additional reporting by Anne-Sylvaine Chassany in Berlin