A senior MEP has stated that the UK could rejoin the EU within months if it secures a deal similar to Switzerland’s agreement, as Andy Burnham seeks closer ties with the bloc, reports BritPanorama.
German MEP Bernard Lange, who was involved in the initial Brexit negotiations, expressed his eagerness to see the UK reintegrate into the EU and outlined a potential expedited route for Britain to return. He suggested that the UK could take a path analogous to that of Switzerland, which, while not a full EU member state, has access to the European single market.
However, Switzerland has made commitments regarding the free movement of people and contributes €375 million (£317 million) annually to the EU’s economic and cohesion funds to maintain this access. This framework could serve as a model for the UK, albeit Lange noted it is a “passive” relationship.
“As a step-by-step process, of course, there are a lot of possibilities, but I would love to have the UK come back also in the political decision-making process and politically be engaged,” he stated. His remarks come in tandem with Burnham’s announcement at Labour’s annual conference last month, where he indicated that exploring options for closer ties with the EU would be a priority and suggested re-entry into the EU could feature in Labour’s next election manifesto.
His proposition was met with approval from various EU leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sanchez, underscoring a shared desire to improve relations following Brexit. During a parliamentary statement on Monday, Burnham outlined plans to utilise an upcoming UK-EU summit in Brussels to advocate for a Brexit reset, focusing on growth, immigration, and security.
As part of the ongoing discourse around Britain’s relationship with Europe, polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice indicated that support for rejoining the EU has reached its highest level since the referendum, now at 61%. This statistic reflects shifting public sentiment regarding the EU since the initial Brexit vote.
With discussions of a potential shift in UK-EU relations gaining momentum, the impact of these developments on domestic and foreign policy will be closely watched as various political stakeholders engage in strategic positioning ahead of future elections.
