Potential UK Re-entry Terms
The United Kingdom could return to the European Union without being forced to adopt the Euro, according to Michel Barnier, the bloc’s former chief Brexit negotiator. While the former French prime minister indicated that membership negotiations could proceed without an obligation to join the single currency, he maintained that the UK would still need to accept freedom of movement.
Barnier said it was “perfectly possible to begin such a negotiation [on membership] without any kind of obligation to take part in” the EU’s single currency, but that what remains “unnegotiable” is “the condition to join the single market”. He also said there can be “no cherry-picking” when it comes to joining the single market, noting that the UK knows quite perfectly the conditions required to rejoin the single market and the customs union.
Polling Shows Growing Support for Rejoining the Bloc
The prospect of a revised relationship with the EU has gained traction amid shifting public opinion. According to polling by professor Sir John Curtice, support for rejoining the bloc has reached 61 percent, the highest level recorded since the 2016 referendum. A separate Ipsos poll conducted in October 2026 found that 56 percent of respondents would favor applying to return to the EU, while 30 percent would prefer to remain outside.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that an “honest discussion” is necessary regarding how Brexit transformed temporary European migration into long-term settlement. While Burnham has not ruled out including a commitment to rejoin the EU in a future Labour manifesto, he has insisted that the public must remain “the boss” in deciding the country’s path, noting that he observed a change in opinion within Leave-voting constituencies during his return to Parliament.
Stanford Professor Estimates GDP Loss from Trade Disruptions
Economic concerns continue to frame the debate. Nick Bloom, a professor at Stanford University, has estimated that the UK economy has lost approximately 8 percent of its GDP due to trade disruptions, increased red tape, and the delays associated with the original Brexit deal.
Looking ahead, a summit in Brussels is scheduled where Burnham is expected to engage with European leaders on topics including trade, security, energy, climate, and youth mobility. While this meeting does not constitute formal readmission negotiations, it highlights an ongoing dialogue about the future of the UK-EU relationship. Under Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, any formal path to re-accession would require unanimous approval by existing member states, the consent of the European Parliament, and ratification in accordance with the constitutional requirements of each participating country.
Questions Regarding Future Membership
Could the UK regain its former opt-outs if it applied for membership today?
While Barnier suggested that the Euro is not a mandatory requirement for negotiations, the EU’s position on “cherry-picking” remains strict. According to reporting from Politico, some officials in Brussels are open to discussing specific conditions for a potential British readmission, but no official policy has been established by European institutions to guarantee specific exceptions.
What is the current status of formal negotiations?
There are no formal negotiations for the UK to rejoin the European Union. According to Politico, the upcoming summit between Prime Minister Burnham and European leaders is intended to address specific policy areas like security and trade rather than serving as a framework for re-entry.
How has the definition of “freedom of movement” affected public support?
Public support for re-entry is sensitive to the specific terms of membership. While general polling often shows majority support for returning to the bloc, data from a June 2026 YouGov survey reported by Politico indicated that support levels dropped significantly when respondents were informed that readmission could require participation in the Schengen Area and the adoption of the Euro.
More on Michel Barnier
"I always thought during the Brexit negotiations that the door will remain open" to the UK, the EU's former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier tells @CathyNewman. Barnier says the UK would be able to rejoin the EU without having to take the euro as its currency pic.twitter.com/7t0VFtzka0
Michel Barnier tells the Guardian that the UK could rejoin the EU without being forced to join the Euro or the Schengen area. That’s exactly what @b_judah concluded in his @ArguablyMag piece last month on why a good Rejoin deal is possible. https://t.co/4URPFHnwY7
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