Chancellor Healey will press EU finance ministers to permit firms from the UK to join the Made in Europe programme, arguing that participation would strengthen industrial links with the European Union rather than create fresh divisions. The chancellor plans to raise the request directly with his counterparts as part of discussions on industrial policy and cross‑border cooperation.
The scheme, launched by EU institutions to coordinate investment and collaboration across member states, seeks to encourage joint projects, shared supply chains and sectoral resilience. Ministers will be asked to consider a UK role that allows British companies to engage with funded initiatives and consortia while respecting the programme’s governance and eligibility rules.
Officials in London say inclusion could offer practical benefits for businesses that operate on both sides of the Channel, by reducing frictions in collaborative research, production and sourcing. Brussels observers note that any decision will need to weigh regulatory alignment, state aid rules and the programme’s strategic objectives before extending access to a non‑member country.
The request reflects a wider shift toward pragmatic engagement between the two sides since the UK’s departure from the EU. If accepted, the move would mark a notable instance of the UK participating in an EU industrial framework and could set a template for future cooperation on technology, manufacturing and critical supply chains. Observers in business and government in both capitals will watch the ministers’ response closely as an indicator of the appetite for closer economic integration within the existing post‑Brexit arrangements.
