Would you let the UK back in the EU under their old agreement?
May 4, 2025
This includes the opt outs and the rebate.
What sort of guarantees would you want from a re-entering UK? Do you want the UK back in the first time (if they were willing)?
26 comments
you made your bed. and besides, even if you did somehow magically join again, you’d leave again eventually, because Brits don’t consider themselves European.
I want them back but old deal should be off the table. Part of the problem was that they thought they are different and better than the rest of us. If they want back in, they need to understand that its not the case. No more special treatment. You are one of us, you play by the same rules and fully parcitipate or … respectfully, stay where you are.
Anyone can make mistakes. The pragmatic, grown up, POV here is that Europe is stronger together, so yes.
Old deal would be a non-starter. Should they wish to rejoin, it should be as ordinary members with no exceptions, ifs, asterisks, etc.
If the UK populace has learned from how they were manipulated into voting to Leave (we saw how false the lies were and how little the electorate understood the issues) then by all means: get rid of those pesky customs checks and new visa requirements. Everyone benefits.
Nope. Tbh the UK has lost much more from Brexit than the EU, so I’d expect more leverage from the EU. If they’re ever back, I’d expect no opt out, no rebate, Schengen and adopting the Euro. Like what is expected from everyone else.
Yes. What would be the reason not to except for some kind of “punishment”? UK in EU is better for both sides. However I hope the process would not start until there is a really solid majority for rejoining to avoid “revolving door”
Doubt it would be as good on the rebate. But the EU is always ready to do a deal. I’d say the UK could get an agreement to not have to use the euro for the foreseeable.
But the UK would have to sign up to the ever closer union clause anyway. It’s not a credible scenario that the UK is ready to committ to that. The EU is not a port to shelter in when times get tough and leave when things look better.
Brexit consumed five years of energy the EU should have put into eastern europe and providing things like the banking union, and more standardization rules etc.
Look, I know nothing about politics or economics or anything. All I know is that there are some unis in the UK that I would like to attend but I would like a discount like other EU countries offer. So, if the UK wants to rejoin the EU, I will welcome them back easily.
Yes, because Russia, China and the US are acute threats and we can’t afford petty revenge when there’s far worse things coming.
French national: nope.
Always exceptions left and right.
Let the UK keep the sterling if they want, but everything else: member state like all others.
I don’t think the UK will rejoin or want to in the next 10 or 15 years so the issue should not happen.
I guess it depends if, and how much, the EU wants the UK back in it because even some ardent Remainers like myself are not interested in rejoining on the standard terms.
It was a mistake to leave but a mistake made because dealing with the EU was difficult and the Leave propaganda machine seized on that whilst seasoning with their own brand of outright lies.
No.
If they want back in, they have to come back in as any other new entrant. They have to sign a treaty to join Schengen, and join the Euro.
No rebate either.
If they want in, they can do it properly.
No more opt outs.
I would like the UK back, even with their old agreements. A lot of people will say that the UK needs the EU more and it’s not special etc, but the reality is that the UK is a very important partner to have. Not only because of their military, economy etc. But because they have tremendous soft power, they have a UN council seat etc. It strengthens the union. The UK does amazingly well in the science fields, innovation, entrepreneurship etc
Nope.
Brexit was their farewell to special treatment.
They are welcome back any time, but on normal terms like any other country.
If it was up to me, yes of course. UK was in the EU for almoust 50 years, so they would need 5 minutes to re-adjust.
Short answer: no.
Long answer: dealing with all the exceptions of the UK membership was quite cumbersome and ultimately expensive. Also, a clear message must pass: no cherry-picking of the EU treaties is possible for new members.
Yes but not with a 51-49 vote. We have enough trouble with disagreements like that with Hungary or Poland. Being a member of the EU is a constitutional issue, which requires wide-ranging support, and uncertainty in that is not acceptable.
lol, no. They are welcome back at any point. But they willfully gave up their sweetheart deal, they don’t get to pull a my bad and get it back.
Same deal as everyone else.
100%. Europe is stronger united. Pettiness and politics aside, the UK is of tremendous value. Strongest military in Europe; strongest growth of any major European economy; one of the biggest economies in Europe; one of the best education systems in the world; punches far above its weight in terms of innovation and industry; enormous soft power globally. The problem is some people’s attitudes in the country.
After the use of Romanian and Bulgarian workers as a cannon fodder and scapegoats to justify Brexit, my answer, as a Romanian, is NO.
NO, NO, NO, No, NO, NO
No.
If the UK is to a part of the EU they have to be committed members who share the aims of the EU.
The old deal was just an official status of being uncommitted to the EU. If we let them back in under the same conditions they would cause problems all over again and eventually leave again once enough time had passed.
Yes I would. We’re better united and we could all make stupid mistakes. It’s not like we didn’t have our own Frexit morons at home. Refusing the UK back, or their old agreement, out of spite isn’t useful at all.
So if we take the U.K. back with no exceptions does that mean we’ll actually go after the French for breaching EU budget rules? The French were never fans of the U.K. in the EU and I imagine they are pretty chuffed the U.K. is out.
As other have said, they should other as new member with all that that entails. But I would prefer the UK back with their old agreement than no UK in the EU.
No. If they ever return, than without any opt-outs. They must participate in Schengen, ditch the pound, no rebates, etc.
But, more importantly, the long term future should indicate a willingness of the UK to stay in. The shift towards the Reform UK party in this weeks elections does not give me any indication this is the case. Nor does Labour attitude towards Brexit.
26 comments
you made your bed. and besides, even if you did somehow magically join again, you’d leave again eventually, because Brits don’t consider themselves European.
I want them back but old deal should be off the table. Part of the problem was that they thought they are different and better than the rest of us. If they want back in, they need to understand that its not the case. No more special treatment. You are one of us, you play by the same rules and fully parcitipate or … respectfully, stay where you are.
Anyone can make mistakes. The pragmatic, grown up, POV here is that Europe is stronger together, so yes.
Old deal would be a non-starter. Should they wish to rejoin, it should be as ordinary members with no exceptions, ifs, asterisks, etc.
If the UK populace has learned from how they were manipulated into voting to Leave (we saw how false the lies were and how little the electorate understood the issues) then by all means: get rid of those pesky customs checks and new visa requirements. Everyone benefits.
Nope. Tbh the UK has lost much more from Brexit than the EU, so I’d expect more leverage from the EU. If they’re ever back, I’d expect no opt out, no rebate, Schengen and adopting the Euro. Like what is expected from everyone else.
Yes. What would be the reason not to except for some kind of “punishment”? UK in EU is better for both sides. However I hope the process would not start until there is a really solid majority for rejoining to avoid “revolving door”
Doubt it would be as good on the rebate. But the EU is always ready to do a deal. I’d say the UK could get an agreement to not have to use the euro for the foreseeable.
But the UK would have to sign up to the ever closer union clause anyway. It’s not a credible scenario that the UK is ready to committ to that. The EU is not a port to shelter in when times get tough and leave when things look better.
Brexit consumed five years of energy the EU should have put into eastern europe and providing things like the banking union, and more standardization rules etc.
Look, I know nothing about politics or economics or anything. All I know is that there are some unis in the UK that I would like to attend but I would like a discount like other EU countries offer. So, if the UK wants to rejoin the EU, I will welcome them back easily.
Yes, because Russia, China and the US are acute threats and we can’t afford petty revenge when there’s far worse things coming.
French national: nope.
Always exceptions left and right.
Let the UK keep the sterling if they want, but everything else: member state like all others.
I don’t think the UK will rejoin or want to in the next 10 or 15 years so the issue should not happen.
I guess it depends if, and how much, the EU wants the UK back in it because even some ardent Remainers like myself are not interested in rejoining on the standard terms.
It was a mistake to leave but a mistake made because dealing with the EU was difficult and the Leave propaganda machine seized on that whilst seasoning with their own brand of outright lies.
No.
If they want back in, they have to come back in as any other new entrant. They have to sign a treaty to join Schengen, and join the Euro.
No rebate either.
If they want in, they can do it properly.
No more opt outs.
I would like the UK back, even with their old agreements. A lot of people will say that the UK needs the EU more and it’s not special etc, but the reality is that the UK is a very important partner to have. Not only because of their military, economy etc. But because they have tremendous soft power, they have a UN council seat etc. It strengthens the union. The UK does amazingly well in the science fields, innovation, entrepreneurship etc
Nope.
Brexit was their farewell to special treatment.
They are welcome back any time, but on normal terms like any other country.
If it was up to me, yes of course. UK was in the EU for almoust 50 years, so they would need 5 minutes to re-adjust.
Short answer: no.
Long answer: dealing with all the exceptions of the UK membership was quite cumbersome and ultimately expensive. Also, a clear message must pass: no cherry-picking of the EU treaties is possible for new members.
Yes but not with a 51-49 vote. We have enough trouble with disagreements like that with Hungary or Poland. Being a member of the EU is a constitutional issue, which requires wide-ranging support, and uncertainty in that is not acceptable.
lol, no. They are welcome back at any point. But they willfully gave up their sweetheart deal, they don’t get to pull a my bad and get it back.
Same deal as everyone else.
100%. Europe is stronger united. Pettiness and politics aside, the UK is of tremendous value. Strongest military in Europe; strongest growth of any major European economy; one of the biggest economies in Europe; one of the best education systems in the world; punches far above its weight in terms of innovation and industry; enormous soft power globally. The problem is some people’s attitudes in the country.
After the use of Romanian and Bulgarian workers as a cannon fodder and scapegoats to justify Brexit, my answer, as a Romanian, is NO.
NO, NO, NO, No, NO, NO
No.
If the UK is to a part of the EU they have to be committed members who share the aims of the EU.
The old deal was just an official status of being uncommitted to the EU. If we let them back in under the same conditions they would cause problems all over again and eventually leave again once enough time had passed.
Yes I would. We’re better united and we could all make stupid mistakes. It’s not like we didn’t have our own Frexit morons at home. Refusing the UK back, or their old agreement, out of spite isn’t useful at all.
So if we take the U.K. back with no exceptions does that mean we’ll actually go after the French for breaching EU budget rules? The French were never fans of the U.K. in the EU and I imagine they are pretty chuffed the U.K. is out.
As other have said, they should other as new member with all that that entails. But I would prefer the UK back with their old agreement than no UK in the EU.
No. If they ever return, than without any opt-outs. They must participate in Schengen, ditch the pound, no rebates, etc.
But, more importantly, the long term future should indicate a willingness of the UK to stay in. The shift towards the Reform UK party in this weeks elections does not give me any indication this is the case. Nor does Labour attitude towards Brexit.