𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Britain could rejoin the European Union without being forced to adopt the euro, but would have to accept freedom of movement and Brussels’ single market rules, the bloc’s former chief Brexit negotiator has warned. Michel Barnier said it was possible for the UK to negotiate an exemption from the requirement to adopt the single currency if it sought to reverse Brexit.

However, he made clear there could be no such flexibility over the EU’s other fundamental rules, meaning Britain would have to accept the free movement of people, goods, services and capital. Speaking to Sky News presenter Cathy Newman, Mr Barnier said: “It is perfectly possible to begin such a negotiation [on rejoining the EU] without any kind of obligation to take part in the euro.”

Although all new EU member states are legally required to commit to joining the euro area, Mr Barnier suggested Britain could negotiate a different arrangement. He said: “But what is, and what remains unnegotiable, is the condition to join the single market.

“There is no negotiation possible. No possible negotiation on any kind of cherry-picking or the single market ‘a la carte’.” He added: “The UK knows quite perfectly the condition to be part of and to rejoin the single market and the customs union.”

The comments represent a significant intervention in the debate over Britain’s future relationship with Brussels, reignited by Andy Burnham’s calls for closer ties with the bloc. The Labour politician has advocated a closer economic relationship with the EU, while the Government has already embarked on a post-Brexit reset intended to reduce trade barriers and strengthen cooperation.

However, Mr Barnier’s intervention highlights the potential price of going further and seeking full EU membership again.

Freedom of movement was one of the most contentious issues during the Brexit referendum campaign in 2016, with supporters of leaving arguing that Britain should regain control over immigration and its borders.

Under the EU’s single market arrangements, however, the four freedoms are treated as inseparable.

Mr Barnier said: “As far as the freedom of movement is concerned, I can only repeat that the four freedoms are linked together and are not negotiable.”

Rejoining the single market would therefore mean accepting rules allowing EU citizens to move to Britain to live and work, alongside the free movement of goods, services and capital.

That would represent a major political challenge for any British government seeking to reverse Brexit, particularly given that ending freedom of movement was a central promise made by Leave campaigners.

Mr Barnier also stressed that the decision to seek EU membership again would rest entirely with Britain.

He said it would be “the choice of the UK people” for the Government to request fresh negotiations to rejoin the bloc.

However, he added that he did not want to intervene in the political debate sparked by Mr Burnham over Britain’s future relationship with Europe.

Britain voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum by 52% to 48%, formally departing on January 31, 2020, before completing its transition period at the end of that year.

The UK subsequently left the single market and customs union, ending automatic free movement between Britain and EU member states.