Ursula von der Leyen on Brexit

Ursula von der Leyen consistently expressed regret over the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, stating she was a strong believer in Remain during her candidacy for the Commission presidency. Following the referendum, her core position has been to fully respect the clear decision of the British people while immediately pivoting to negotiating a new, comprehensive partnership based on clarity and mutual interest. She maintained that while the door remains open for the UK to rejoin, the partnership post-exit cannot be as close as before because every decision carries a consequence, such as accepting that without the free movement of people, there cannot be the free movement of goods and services. This principle of trade-offs is central to her approach to the future relationship, emphasizing that the more divergence between the EU and UK, the more distant the partnership must be.

Her approach has also involved stressing the need for vigilance regarding the implementation of existing agreements, warning that the trade deal has "real teeth" for enforcement should terms be breached. She noted that in turbulent times, both the EU and UK would benefit from overcoming the lack of trust engendered by the Brexit process. In a subsequent phase of the relationship, she affirmed the EU and UK as "historical and natural partners standing side by side on the global stage," committed to pursuing the same objectives and sharing values, suggesting an ongoing desire for constructive cooperation despite the separation.