Breturn? Wary EU waits for actions, not words from UK

BRUSSELS — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham may have shifted the dial by floating a return for his country to the European Union. But after a rollercoaster decade since the Brexit vote, the U.K. rejoining is only a distant prospect and Brussels is waiting first to see what London wants next. "It's positive. It improves the tone," one EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP. "But we're not going to change our approach because there's nice music in the background." Burnham — who took power in July — this week broke a taboo for a British premier by opening the door to the U.K.'s possible return to the fold. Smashing through red lines set by his cautious predecessor Keir Starmer, the former mayor of Manchester said potential options might include staying as is, joining the EU's customs union or single market, or eventually going "all the way." The positive vibes from the new UK leader drew a warm response from several of his European counterparts. "Welcome back," quipped French President Emmanuel Macron in English. "If the British want to come back and if the prime min