UK could quickly re-enter EU with ‘Switzerland plus’ deal, senior MEP says
Summary
A senior European Parliament official said that the UK could quickly rejoin the EU through a "Switzerland plus" deal, which offers close ties without full membership. This model involves some cooperation and market access but no full political decision-making. The final decision is up to the UK government.Key Facts
- The "Switzerland plus" deal is based on Switzerland’s relationship with the EU, involving many agreements but no full membership.
- Switzerland has access to the EU single market in areas like electricity, space programs, and research.
- Switzerland agreed to free movement of people and pays around €375 million annually to the EU funds.
- Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected Swiss-style arrangements due to free movement and regulatory alignment.
- The European Parliament trade committee chair, Bernd Lange, supports the UK returning to stronger EU ties and political engagement.
- Lange supports UK inclusion in the EU’s "Made in Europe" legislation, which affects supplier inclusion in public contracts.
- Some EU countries, including France, want to restrict UK access to protect against competition from China, while others support UK involvement.
- The UK government is currently working on a new position for its relationship with the EU.
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