The European Union’s former chief Brexit negotiator has said the UK could rejoin the bloc on some of the same special terms it enjoyed before the vote to leave.
Unlike new members, the UK would not have to adopt the euro and could stay outside the passport-free Schengen travel area, Michel Barnier said.
His comments will be seen as a major boost to those who are campaigning for the UK to rejoin the EU, as the 10th anniversary of the Brexit vote approaches.
Mr Barnier also said the evidence that the UK had made the wrong choice in the referendum was becoming clearer “every day”.
He added: “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.”
He also poured cold water on Sir Keir Starmer’s hopes of closer economic ties with the EU if he does not accept freedom of movement. Asked if this was possible he said “no”, adding there was no political appetite to “give any argument to the far right in France or elsewhere.”
Last month Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, warned Britain not to expect a similar deal to its “de-facto à la carte membership” of the past.
All EU member states are expected to join the euro, apart from Denmark, which has an opt-out.
But five of the 13 countries that have joined the EU since 2004 are yet to adopt the single currency.
When it comes to Schengen, Ireland is the only EU member state with an official opt-out from the passport-free travel area.
Barnier, who was prime minister of France in 2024, said he believed the UK would be able to regain some of its old opt-outs.
He 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.”
But he would not be drawn on whether the UK could also keep the rebate secured by Margaret Thatcher, which cut the UK’s financial contributions to the bloc’s budget.
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.”
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