No ‘tailor-made’ deal for UK if it wants to rejoin bloc, say former EU Brexit officials
Britain likely to face ‘warm, welcoming stance’ if it seeks re-entry but also a ‘hard-headed one’ – with no special deals
TL;DR
- Former Brexit negotiators believe Britain would not regain its past special status if it sought to rejoin the EU.
- Any re-entry would likely be on standard terms, requiring membership in the euro and Schengen zone.
- EU member states would likely welcome a British application but would be 'hard-headed' on terms.
- The UK previously had a special status with opt-outs from core policies and a rebate on EU budget payments.
- Senior UK politicians, including Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham, have expressed views on rejoining the EU in the future.
- EU officials suggest that closer cooperation is being discussed rather than immediate re-entry scenarios.
- Rejoining would require the UK to internalize the fundamental European deal of pooling sovereignty for benefits.
- The EU would need to see a durable national consensus in the UK that it has genuinely changed its mind about membership.