Rejoin, reset or go Swiss-style? How the UK could try to unpick Brexit
Wes Streeting has suggested he wants to see the UK ‘back in the EU’ one day – but the bloc might take some convincing
TL;DR
- Full EU accession would require a referendum with potentially 60-70% support and intense negotiations, possibly prioritizing other accession candidates like Ukraine and Moldova.
- A Swiss-style deal offers frictionless single market access, electricity market access, and participation in various EU programs, but requires free movement of people and financial contributions.
- Membership in the European Economic Area (EEA), similar to Norway, would necessitate joining EFTA and accepting free movement.
- Current UK government policy, including a youth mobility scheme, shows a continued nervousness about public perception of closer alignment with the EU.
- Brussels may prefer to focus political energy on other priorities but has shown openness to flexible agreements, as evidenced by the Swiss deal.