UK Could Rejoin EU Without Adopting the Euro, but Free Movement Is Non-Negotiable: Barnier
Britain might not have to adopt the single currency, the euro, if it wanted to rejoin the European Union (EU), but there would be no compromise on free movement, Michel Barnier, the EU's lead negotiator during the Brexit process, has said.
In an interview with Cathy Newman for Sky News, Barnier said it would be perfectly possible to begin a negotiation on rejoining the EU without any kind of obligation to take part in the euro.
All EU new member states are legally required to join the euro area. However, Barnier said it would be possible to negotiate a new relationship without this obligation.
His remarks came against the backdrop of a recent claim by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has alleged that if the UK were to reapply to join the EU, it would have to sign up to the euro.
The report noted that the allegation was never taken particularly seriously by people who know how the EU works, because while new members are theoretically obliged to sign up to the euro, six of the 27 current members do not use it and one, Denmark, has a formal opt-out.
On the single market, however, Barnier's position was firm. He said there is no negotiation possible on the condition to join the single market, and no cherry-picking or single market 'a la carte'.
Barnier said the UK knows perfectly well the condition to be part of and to rejoin the single market and the customs union, and that the EU would not compromise on free movement.
