Key facts
- UK could rejoin EU with a "Switzerland plus" deal, according to Bernd Lange.
- Switzerland has frictionless access to the EU single market via over 100 agreements.
- Switzerland pays €375m annually for EU economic and cohesion funds.
- Lange supports including the UK in the "Made in Europe" legislation.
- France has opposed including the UK in the "Made in Europe" legislation.
A senior European Parliament member has suggested that the UK could rejoin the European Union through a "Switzerland plus" arrangement. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, indicated that such a deal could be negotiated within months if the UK decided to deepen its ties with the bloc. He expressed a desire for the UK's return to political decision-making processes, proposing a model similar to Switzerland's but with more engagement.
Switzerland, while not an EU member, has secured access to the EU's single market through numerous agreements, including participation in programs like Erasmus and the Digital Europe research program. In return, Switzerland agreed to free movement of people and annual payments to EU funds.
Lange also voiced support for including the UK in the EU's "Made in Europe" legislation, which aims to bolster European industries. This initiative has faced opposition from France, which is concerned about cheap competition from China and the potential for delays in legislation. However, Lange argued that excluding the UK, which aligns with EU environmental and employment standards, is "not rational."