Key facts
- The EU's door is open to the UK, according to former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.
- Barnier stated the UK cannot 'cherry-pick' EU policies or expect to 'have its cake and eat it'.
- He suggested a fast-tracked process for UK re-engagement is possible if regulatory divergence is minimal.
- Barnier proposed a new 'European Council for Defence and Security' open to non-EU members.
- A UK-EU summit scheduled for July 22 was postponed following UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation.
Ten years after the UK voted to leave the European Union, former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has stated that the bloc's door remains open to the United Kingdom. In an interview with Euronews, Barnier emphasized that while rejoining or deepening ties is possible, London cannot selectively adopt EU policies.
Barnier, a prominent French politician, described Brexit as a 'lose-lose game' and reiterated that the conditions for closer alignment are clear. He suggested that the UK could potentially join the EU's single market without full membership, similar to countries like Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, provided it respects the four freedoms: free movement of goods, services, people, and capital.
However, Barnier cautioned against the UK 'cherry-picking' policies, stating that significant regulatory divergence from EU standards could complicate and lengthen any accession or re-engagement process. He hinted that if the UK maintains alignment with EU norms, a rapid process could be feasible, distinguishing it from the lengthy accession timelines faced by candidate countries like Ukraine.
Barnier also proposed the creation of a new 'European Council for Defence and Security' that could include non-EU members such as the UK, Norway, and Ukraine, to foster cooperation on defense and security matters. He noted that the UK and EU are currently engaged in 'reset talks' aimed at agreements on issues like agrifood standards, emissions trading, and youth mobility.
These discussions were expected to culminate in a summit on July 22. However, European Council President António Costa confirmed the summit's postponement in light of the resignation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Political figures, including Liberal Democrats and pro-EU Labour MPs, have urged Starmer's potential successor, Andy Burnham, to reconsider 'red lines' on the single market and customs union, which are seen as obstacles by Brussels.