• British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed concerns to French President Emmanuel Macron about the potential negative impact of the EU's made in Europe procurement agenda on UK industry.
• The European Union scheme aims to prioritize EU firms for public contracts and subsidies, raising fears that UK industries like car manufacturing and steel could suffer if British firms are shut out.
• Burnham and Macron discussed the need to protect shared interests and find a way forward during their meeting in Downing Street, which also covered topics such as small boats, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the Bayeux Tapestry.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told French President Emmanuel Macron that the made in Europe procurement agenda "could pose significant challenges" for UK industry.

The two leaders, meeting in Downing Street in London on Thursday, agreed "it was vital to work together to find a way forward to protect shared interests," according to a readout of their talks.

The European Union scheme being drawn up in Brussels as part of its industrial accelerator act is designed to protect European manufacturing from global competition, especially from China.

It would give EU firms priority for public contracts and subsidies.

Concerns have been raised that UK industries including car manufacturing and steel would suffer if the plan shut out British firms that trade across the UK-EU border.

The scheme has been championed by France, which has been resistant to UK demands for special access in other EU initiatives.

Burnham addressed the concerns during the pair's discussions, which also focused on small boats, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the Bayeux Tapestry.

A spokeswoman for Burnham said: "The leaders also discussed the UK's drive to get closer to Europe and the prime minister set out how the made in Europe agenda could pose significant challenges for UK industry.

"The leaders agreed it was vital to work together to find a way forward to protect shared interests."

Burnham raised the issue during his first prime minister's questions on Wednesday, when he told MPs the made in Europe agenda "could pose significant problems for British steel."

He said that ahead of a UK-EU summit set to take place in the coming months, "it is imperative, I believe, that we work hard to get a good deal for British steel, for British farming."

After blaming the UK's "decade of low growth" partly on Brexit, the Labour leader said he wanted a "closer relationship" with the EU, building on his predecessor Keir Starmer's work to reset the relationship.

The summit was due in the summer but was postponed to the autumn after Starmer's resignation as prime minister.

It is aimed at settling deals to forge closer ties on food, energy and defence, as well as on a youth mobility scheme, where Brussels is seeking lower university tuition fees for EU students.

Talks on Britain joining the EU's €150-billion ($174.5-billion) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) rearmament fund reportedly broke down because France insisted on a price for entry deemed too high.

Burnham is sticking with the 2024 Labour manifesto's "red lines" of not returning to the customs union or the single market or allowing free movement.

Burnham and Macron joined King Charles III at the British Museum on Wednesday to view the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition.