// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
UK and EU officials to discuss freedom of movement
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says no "assumptions" have been made about what the future UK-EU relationship could look like
British and European officials will discuss the future options for the UK's relationship with the EU, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has told the BBC.
Officials on both sides are expected to begin discussions about a range of options, including free movement, before the EU summit on 20 November.
However, Downing Street has insisted the government's current focus is on achieving new deals in areas such as food and youth mobility at the summit.
Reynolds said no "assumptions" had been made about what the UK's future relationship with Brussels could look like.
Andy Burnham has said he wants an "honest discussion" about the prospect of returning to free movement between the UK and EU.
But the prime minister has been clear any major changes to the UK-EU relationship would require a mandate at a general election, which is due by 2029.
He has vowed to stick by the red lines in Labour's 2024 manifesto, with no return to freedom of movement, the EU single market or customs union, for the duration of this parliamentary session, which will end by 2029.
Freedom of movement, which allows EU citizens to travel, live, study and work in any member country, is a precondition of membership of the EU's single market.
The single market enables goods, services and people to move freely between member states, with countries also applying many common rules and standards.