Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, has cautioned against the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union, warning that such a move would trigger years of political uncertainty and deepen divisions within Europe. Speaking in response to comments from British Labour politician Andy Burnham, who suggested the party might pursue re-establishing closer ties with the EU, O’Leary expressed skepticism about the wisdom and feasibility of the UK’s re-entry as a full member.
“There’s been enough psychodrama over Brexit and its aftermath,” O’Leary said, emphasizing his view that Brexit represented an economic setback for the UK. While he opposed rejoining the EU, he also questioned whether Europe itself was prepared to welcome the UK back. “I’m not sure anybody in Europe wants the UK to rejoin as full members,” he stated.
Burnham recently outlined a range of options for the UK’s future engagement with the EU, including full membership, rejoining the customs union, or adopting a Canada-style associate membership. He argued that the country’s current relationship with Europe “isn’t good enough,” signaling a potential shift in political strategy. However, O’Leary warned that any steps toward reintegration could provoke long-lasting uncertainty, projecting that the EU and the UK could face “another 10 or 20 years of psychodrama” over membership disputes.
In contrast to O’Leary’s view, several prominent European figures have expressed openness to the UK’s return. Roland Lescure, France’s finance minister, affirmed that Britain would be welcome “any time” should it choose to rejoin the bloc, although he acknowledged the British electorate’s sovereign decision to leave the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this sentiment, describing the prospect of the UK’s return as “very good news” for both Britain and the EU, despite France’s ongoing debt challenges.
O’Leary highlighted additional difficulties in renegotiating a post-Brexit trade relationship, noting that securing a “very close deal” similar to those of Norway or Switzerland would require the UK to contribute financially to the EU budget—a point that could complicate domestic support for reentry. He also pointed to uncertainties regarding Brussels’s new “Made In Europe” initiative, which prioritizes EU firms for public contracts and subsidies to shield the bloc’s industries from Chinese competition.
Burnham has voiced concerns about the potential negative impacts of this policy on British manufacturers and supply chains. In response, Lescure said that by rejoining the EU, the UK would regain its seat at the negotiating table to influence such policies, underscoring the potential benefits of renewed membership.
As debate continues, the UK’s future relationship with the EU remains unsettled, marked by contrasting perspectives within Britain and among European leaders on the economic and political implications of reengagement.