UK could keep special pre-Brexit terms if it rejoined EU, Michel Barnier says

Michel Barnier has said Britain could regain its special terms if it rejoined the EU and claimed it was becoming clearer every day to the British people that they would be stronger in Europe. In an interview before the 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum next week, the EU’s former chief Brexit negotiator said he could not see any obstacle to the UK keeping the pound and remaining outside the passport-free Schengen travel area should the country rejoin. The comments cast serious doubt on suggestions from some authoritative voices, including Poland’s foreign minister, that the UK could be forced to accept more difficult terms on re-entering the bloc. They will be seen as a boost to those who are campaigning for the UK to rejoin the EU, with polling showing that support for rejoining is stronger when the old terms are on the table. Under the EU treaties, all member states are expected to join the euro, apart from Denmark, which has a permanent opt-out. New member states are also legally obliged to join the Schengen passport-free area once they meet the necessary technical, legal and security requirements. Barnier, who remains an influential voice in Brussels and was prime minister of France in 2024, said he believed the UK would be able to regain exemptions given the precedents already set. He said: “I am speaking about Schengen, I am speaking about the single currency: there are other member states who are not in them. …