Michel Barnier says UK could rejoin EU single market if it respects four freedoms

Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told Euronews that the United Kingdom may re‑enter the EU single market, but only by fully respecting the bloc’s four freedoms – free movement of goods, services, people and capital. He warned that the UK cannot “have its cake and eat it” and that any cherry‑picking of EU rules would be rejected.

Barnier noted that a fast‑track accession could be possible if the UK maintains regulatory alignment with EU standards; otherwise the process would be lengthy, similar to that faced by candidate countries. He also suggested the UK could join the single market without becoming an EU member, citing the examples of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The remarks came amid political debate in Britain over Labour’s red lines on the single market and customs union, with potential leadership changes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation.

Barnier highlighted areas for continued UK‑EU cooperation, including defence, security and new technologies such as artificial intelligence.