Barnier says UK could rejoin EU without euro but must accept free movement
Former EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier stated that the United Kingdom could re-enter the EU without adopting the euro, provided it accepts the EU's four freedoms, including free movement of people.
Michel Barnier, the European Union's former chief Brexit negotiator, told Sky News that the United Kingdom could begin talks to rejoin the bloc without being required to adopt the euro. He emphasized that while the single currency would not be a condition, joining the single market would be, which entails accepting the free movement of people, goods, services and capital.
"As far as the freedom of movement is concerned, I can only repeat that the four freedoms are linked together and are not negotiable," Barnier said.
He added that there is no scope for "cherry-picking" or a "single market 'a la carte'" and that the UK is already aware of the conditions for re-entering the single market and customs union.
The comments follow remarks by UK Labour leader Andy Burnham, who denied proposing a return of free movement and said the public should decide any future relationship with the EU. Burnham has urged ministers to explore long-term options, and he has not excluded the possibility of including EU re-membership in Labour's next election manifesto.
Polling data cited by the Independent shows support for rejoining the EU at 61 percent, the highest level since the 2016 referendum, while a Stanford University professor estimated that the UK may have lost up to 8 percent of GDP due to Brexit-related trade disruptions.