Speaking about the UK's decision to leave the EU at the UCL Centre for Finance, Romano Prodi - who served as president of the European Commission from 1999 to 2004 said: "I'm betting that in 15 years the UK will come back."
His optimism for Britain to rejoin the bloc is not matched by Jean-Claude Juncker, another former European Commission chief, who in July suggested it would take "a century or two".
Speaking to Politico, he said: "When you leave a boat, you can't get back on the same boat." Sir Keir Starmer has previously insisted the UK will not rejoin the EU within his lifetime. "I've been really clear about not rejoining the EU, the single market or the customs union [allowing a] return to freedom of movement," he said.
Denne historien er fra October 26, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra October 26, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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'I'll be back through No 10's doors one way or another'
We all know Maro Itoje's leadership qualities in rugby, but he tells Harry Latham-Coyle he has big ambitions off the pitch
Defiance proved no match for a bizarre brand of chaos
Erik ten Hag has a class of defiance that sometimes made him sound a man apart.
The 'fight has been called off' for staggering Ten Hag
Man United sack manager with the club 14th in league
Gift economy: John Lewis to hire 12,500 festive staff
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) is set to hire 12,500 temporary staff this festive season in its largest seasonal recruitment drive to date.
Zoopla says £113bn of sales in pipeline as market surges
An estimated £113bn-worth of homes are working their way through the buying process in what marks the highest level of new sales agreed since autumn 2020, according to the property website Zoopla.
Look to Ireland to embrace the true spirit of Halloween
Anna Hart speaks to historians, spiritual leaders and revellers about Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival now enjoying a resurgence but which the Irish were forcibly taught to forget
Depardieu sexual assault trial postponed until March
Gerard Depardieu’s trial on charges of sexually assaulting two women on a film set was yesterday postponed until March due to concerns about the actor’s health.
Big Apple rotten to the core at Trump's Garden party
A 'surreal' return to New York saw 19,000 people cheer on crude insults and attacks nine days before the US election
Paedophile who made AI images jailed for 18 years.
A man has been jailed for 18 years after creating AI-generated images of child sexual abuse in an “utterly chilling” landmark case.
Fertility rate in England and Wales plunges to record low
The fertility rate in England and Wales has dropped to its lowest level since records began, new government data shows.
