Brussels would be "open‑minded" about discussing closer trade ties with the UK, including the possibility of working together on a customs union, the European Commissioner for finance has told the BBC.
Valdis Dombrovskis said the bloc was "ready to engage" if the UK wanted to explore the move, an idea Labour has faced growing pressure to consider.
Speaking after high-level talks with ministers including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, he also said Britain and the EU could remove "most" food checks between the UK and the bloc.
He also opened the door to Britain entering the EU's €150bn ($177bn; £130bn) defence loans scheme after talks on an agreement broke down last year.
Dombrovskis's intervention marked the strongest comments yet from Brussels about its willingness to re-engage with Britain amid mounting global uncertainty.
