European Greens declare UK's future lies in the EU
Co-chair Vula Tsetsi urges European political families to trigger a discussion on the UK returning to the Union, a move that comes amidst shifting domestic fortunes for the Green party.
Delegates from thirty European green parties gathered in Brussels on Friday to approve a declaration stating that the United Kingdom's future lies within the European Union. Adopted by a large majority at the movement's annual leadership meeting, the text marks the first instance of a European political party officially inviting the UK to return to the bloc. Co-chair Vula Tsetsi stated that while the primary discussion belongs to the UK's democratic process, it is now time for the European Green family to trigger the debate regarding rejoining.
The declaration explicitly frames Brexit as a political and economic failure with lasting negative consequences for people across the United Kingdom and Europe. It asserts that the European Green family stands ready to welcome the UK back alongside other nations once it chooses this path. This intervention arrives as part of a broader declaration by party leaders calling for energy independence and action to counter the far-right, positioning the stance on the UK as a central element of their policy agenda.
The timing of the statement coincides with significant shifts in UK politics, following heavy losses for Keir Starmer's Labour party in local elections to Nigel Farage's Reform party. While the Greens have struggled to convert increased vote shares into seats, Tsetsi argued that the party's fortunes are rising again. She pointed to recent election results in Denmark and mayoral contests across Europe, noting that Greens and affiliated parties secured mayoralties in Riga and Copenhagen in 2025.
Representatives from British green parties were not physically present at the meeting in Brussels due to concurrent local and parliamentary elections. However, they were entitled to take a position on the paper remotely, and their stance aligns with the declaration. Zach Polanski, the Green party leader for England and Wales, described Brexit as a sledgehammer to an already weak economy and confirmed he is firmly in favour of rejoining the EU eventually.
Tsetsi brushed aside suggestions that the UK had been a difficult member state, noting that history shows Brexit was a mistake where both sides lost out. She emphasised that the political situation has evolved since the 2016 referendum and that Europe now needs to be reinforced. Despite this unilateral stance, the European Green party remains the only major political faction expected to adopt such a position, with no other European parties anticipated to follow suit.
The declaration instructs green parties across Europe, such as Die Grünen in Germany and Les Écologistes in France, to reflect this position in their national debates and policy stances. While the Greens are currently represented in few EU governments and have faced losses in the 2024 European parliament elections, Tsetsi insists the moment is now for them to influence the political debate. She expressed confidence that the European Union could learn from past mistakes to build a stronger future together.