Senior EU figures have signalled a renewed openness to strengthening economic and political cooperation with the UK, including the possibility of closer trade alignment and discussions around a customs union.

Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commissioner for finance, told the BBC that Brussels would be prepared to engage constructively if the UK wished to pursue deeper trade ties. He said the EU was “ready to engage with an open mind”, as Labour faces growing internal pressure to consider closer cooperation with the bloc.

Speaking following meetings in London with senior ministers, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Dombrovskis suggested there was potential to remove most checks on food and agricultural products traded between the UK and the EU. He said this could be achieved if the UK aligned with EU sanitary and phytosanitary standards, an area where negotiations are already advanced.

Dombrovskis also indicated that the UK could still participate in the EU’s €150bn defence loans programme, known as Security Action for Europe (SAFE), despite talks on enhanced access breaking down late last year. While UK firms are currently capped at supplying 35% of the value of defence products under the scheme, he said Brussels remained open to further discussions.

His comments represent the strongest signal yet that the EU is willing to re-engage with the UK amid growing global uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics.

At a joint event in London, Reeves argued that closer UK-EU cooperation was becoming increasingly important, warning that the global order was becoming less predictable. She said the two sides shared common values on trade, the economy and security, and emphasised the need to coordinate responses and “speak with one voice” where possible.

A customs union would remove tariffs on goods traded between the UK and EU, reducing red tape and border friction. However, critics argue it would limit the UK’s ability to strike independent trade deals, as members apply common external tariffs and follow shared standards.

Labour’s election manifesto ruled out rejoining the existing EU customs union or the single market, which requires common rules across sectors. Nevertheless, calls for closer alignment have increased among Labour MPs, with Justice Secretary David Lammy suggesting a customs union could support economic growth.

Dombrovskis said the EU was also open to discussions around aspects of the single market, while stressing that full membership would require acceptance of the four freedoms, including freedom of movement.

The talks took place under the “Quint” format, involving senior UK and EU figures, aimed at coordinating responses to recent global trade and security shocks, including tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and comments on Greenland.

Dombrovskis said the EU’s firm response to those threats helped shift negotiations into a more constructive phase.