Tony Blair's policy institute published a paper on Thursday, 24 September 2026, advocating for Britain to set a course for re-entry into a "reformed European Union" over the next decade. The paper suggests that the need for the UK and the EU to build capability in defence and capacity on AI is more pressing than in the past.
This development occurs amidst ongoing discussions regarding the UK's relationship with Europe under Labour leader Andy Burnham's government. An EU-UK summit, initially scheduled for May and then July, has been delayed to a yet-to-be confirmed date at the end of the year.
There are reported new objections from some of Burnham's ministers concerning a proposed youth mobility scheme, which risks being unstitched. Claims also suggest that the EU’s "made in Europe" policy on supply chains could disadvantage British industry and create further obstacles to an agreement, with progress on this issue reportedly stalled since February.