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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Millie Cooke

EU ready to fast track Britain’s return after Brexit catastrophe

  • The European Union could significantly fast-track the United Kingdom's re-entry into the bloc if it chose to rejoin, largely due to its extensive pre-existing alignment with EU legislation and institutional memory from its previous membership.
  • Sandro Gozi, chair of the European delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly, stated that the EU would view a UK request to rejoin as a "major victory for the European project" and confirmed a quicker accession process is feasible.
  • The debate over Britain's EU membership was reignited after former health secretary Wes Streeting advocated for the country to rejoin, describing Brexit as a "catastrophic mistake" and suggesting a future Labour government should pursue this.
  • While joining the Euro would likely be a key starting point for any re-accession talks, some sources indicate there could be "wiggle room" given that several current EU member states do not use the currency and the UK currently does not meet the strict entry criteria.
  • Despite the potential for a fast-track, a source close to the EU's ambassador to the UK cautioned that the bloc is currently focused on existing agreements with Britain and views speculation about rejoining as an "internal issue" for the UK, with no formal request having been made.

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