# Barnier says UK could rejoin EU without euro, but with free movement

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/uk-can-avoid-euro-but-must-accept-free-movement-to-rejoin-eu-says-former-top-brexit-negotiator-uk-politics-live/
- Published: 2026-11-05T08:48:04+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T09:20:08+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2026/nov/05/uk-politics-latest-news-updates-andy-burnham-eu-brexit-labour
- Topics: Europe, Geopolitics, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- Barnier said euro membership need not be a condition of rejoining talks.
- The EU would insist on free movement and single-market rules.
- Six current EU members do not use the euro.

## Summary

Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the UK could start talks to rejoin the EU without committing to adopt the euro. His comments challenge Nigel Farage’s claim that rejoining would require the UK to join the single currency.

Barnier said the EU would not allow the UK to pick and choose its access to the single market: free movement would remain a condition. Although new EU members are legally expected to join the euro area, six of the 27 current members do not use the euro, and Denmark has a formal opt-out.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.