Barnier sets terms for UK rejoining EU
The gist
Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said UK rejoin talks can start without euro membership.
Freedom of movement stays non-negotiable, shaping any future UK-EU deal.
How it unfolded
- early May 2026Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Poland would vote in favour of the UK rejoining the EU if it applied, but that the UK would "not get the same deal as it had before".
- Jun 2026Barnier said it would be possible for the UK to rejoin the EU and regain its opt-outs on euro membership and Schengen, noting other member states had opt-outs in these areas.
- Jul 9, 2026In an interview, Barnier said staying out of the euro and the Schengen area would be 'perfectly possible' for a rejoining UK.
Key terms
- euro
- The official currency of 21 European Union member states, which together form the eurozone.
- Freedom of movement
- A human rights concept covering the right to travel, reside, and work within a country and to leave and return.
- Schengen
- A system of open borders among 29 European countries that have abolished border controls at their common borders.
Source: Wikipedia