A FORMER top Brexit negotiator has said he believes the UK could re-join the European Union and keep the special carve-outs it enjoyed while part of the bloc.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s lead Brexit deal-maker, said it would be “perfectly possible” for the UK to come back into the fold without signing up for the Euro or the passport-free Schengen travel area.
Speaking to The Guardian ahead of the 10th anniversary of the vote to leave the EU, the French statesman said: “I am speaking about Schengen, I am speaking about the single currency: there are other member states who are not in them. It is perfectly possible to have opt-outs in these fields.”
It comes after top European voices, including the Polish foreign minister, cast doubt on whether Britain could revive the special terms it had while a member of the bloc.
Under EU rules, all member states are expected to join the Euro however countries are afforded leeway by the fact there is not a timetable for them to do so.
Since 2004, 13 countries have joined the EU but five of these are yet to adopt the shared currency, The Guardian reports.
Barnier told the paper he would not comment on whether Britain would be able to re-established its reduced contribution rate.
He said: “The DNA of the EU is solidarity that the more developed country helps the other […] We will see if the UK decides to ask to join the EU. It will be a choice and it will be open to negotiation. I will be ready at that time for free advice.”
Keir Starmer has attempted to bring Britain closer to the EU but has maintained his “red lines” which include ruling out a return to the single market or the customs union.
However, asked about whether these could be crossed last month as he promised to put “Britain at the heart of Europe”, the Prime Minister replied: “What I want to do is take a big leap forward with the EU-U.K. summit this year and take us closer, both on trade, the economy, defence and security, and that will then be a platform on which we can build as we go forward.”
He added: “As we do that, I strongly believe, we've got to turn our back on the arguments of the past, not open old grievances, but look forward together to how we make this country stronger, how we make this country fair – and so that's the approach that I will take.”
Barnier rejected outright the possibility of building a deeper trade relationship with the UK without also adopting EU immigration rules.
In reference to the UK’s sluggish economic growth and the toxicity of the immigration debate since leaving the EU, Barnier said: “It would not be fair to say that the problems of the UK today are due to Brexit but what I am sure of is that all these problems are more difficult because of Brexit.”
