UK cannot 'cherry pick' EU single market deal, Barnier tells BBC
The former Brexit negotiator says EU countries would reject any British attempts to follow economic rules "a la carte".
Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has cautioned the UK against "cherry picking" specific elements of the single market to which it subscribes. Former Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed interest in exploring closer economic ties with Europe, potentially including rejoining the internal market, according to the BBC.
However, Barnier, who led the EU delegation during Brexit negotiations between 2016 and 2021, emphasized that the UK cannot select arbitrary components of the single market. He insisted that any rejoining of the single market would necessitate adherence to the same conditions as other members, including the free movement of people, goods, services, capital, and capital.
The "four freedoms" are fundamental to maintaining membership within the single market. Burnham, who is contemplating a closer relationship with Europe, has not ruled out rejoining the EU as a full member, although he has dismissed major changes before the next elections. The free movement of people, pivotal during the 2016 Brexit referendum, remains a contentious issue.
Burnham's predecessor, Keir Starmer, had previously ruled out reinstating free movement for the UK, making it a potential flashpoint in future political debates. Meanwhile, Barnier also criticized the UK's financial rebate, introduced in 1985, as "false promises and lies," rejecting any possibility of its reinstatement. He further disparaged Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson for false promises made during the Leave campaign, specifically the claim of £350 million per week in contributions the UK sent to the EU.
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