Key facts
- Michel Barnier stated the UK could retain special terms if it rejoined the EU.
- These special terms could include keeping the pound and remaining outside the Schengen area.
- Barnier suggested precedents exist for such opt-outs within the EU.
- The proposal could potentially boost pro-EU sentiment in Britain.
Michel Barnier, who previously served as the EU's chief negotiator for Brexit, has outlined a scenario where the United Kingdom could rejoin the European Union under special terms. Barnier indicated that such terms could allow the UK to retain its national currency, the pound sterling, and to remain outside the Schengen area, which governs border-free travel among member states. He suggested that precedents for such arrangements already exist within the EU, implying that a rejoining nation does not necessarily have to adopt all existing EU policies and agreements. Barnier's comments suggest a potential pathway for the UK to regain EU membership while preserving certain aspects of its sovereignty. This perspective could potentially foster renewed pro-EU sentiment within Britain, offering a different outlook on the country's relationship with the bloc.