“Europe is not just our geography, but so much more,” he said. “It is how we pursue our values from climate to the Middle East. It's how we pursue our interests from trade to defense. It's where we build and protect our alliances.

“So it is not simply Britain acting alone, but Britain with others. And on economics, on defense, on security, I say to this conference, our future lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the European Union.”

The planned U.K.-EU summit to conclude the current round of talks is yet to get a new date. It was originally scheduled for July but postponed after the collapse of Keir Starmer’s government.

U.K. officials say they are keen for the EU to give guarantees that British businesses will not be hit by new Made in Europe measures that will shut some third countries out of EU contracts.

EU officials have said they can’t give those guarantees as the legislation is still at a formative stage and subject to negotiation between different member countries.

Speaking in Liverpool, Falconer described the Made in Europe measures as “alarming,” adding that he was “obviously very focused on the interests of British industry.”

Meanwhile a group of European chambers of commerce focused on trade with the U.K. has written to the European Commission, Council and senior MEPs urging them to include the U.K. in any Made in Europe plans.

Signatories from groups including the British Chambers of Commerce in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium said “the United Kingdom should not be viewed as a typical third country within the Made in Europe debate,” citing “decades of industrial cooperation, deeply integrated supply chains, comparable regulatory standards and robust commitments under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.”