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UK can rejoin EU without adopting Euro — but only on one condition, Barnier says
Michel Barnier said the UK could negotiate to rejoin the EU without committing to adopt the euro, but would have to accept freedom of movement as part of membership of the single market. He said the EU’s four freedoms, covering people, goods, services and capital, are linked and cannot be negotiated separately.
His comments come amid renewed UK debate about its future relationship with the EU, with Andy Burnham urging ministers to explore options and the prime minister saying public opinion should guide any change. A poll cited in the article puts support for rejoining at 61 per cent, while a Stanford professor estimated Brexit may have reduced UK GDP by up to 8 per cent through lost trade, red tape and delays.
In short
- Rejoining the EU could be negotiated without adopting the euro.
- Barnier says freedom of movement and the other single-market freedoms are non-negotiable.
- UK leaders are discussing future ties as support for rejoining reaches 61 per cent.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Rejoining could restore closer trade and economic links, reduce barriers for businesses and address costs attributed to Brexit. If the UK sought single-market membership, accepting free movement would be part of the shared rules that make those benefits possible; the reported support for rejoining also gives proponents reason to argue the question merits serious public debate.
The case against
Rejoining on those terms would require accepting free movement, which could constrain the UK’s ability to set its own immigration policy and would be a significant political choice. Any claimed economic gains should be weighed against the obligations of membership and uncertainty about the scale of Brexit’s effects; a poll alone does not settle whether rejoining is in the public interest.
Europe Government Politics UK World