UK could quickly re-enter EU with ‘Switzerland plus’ deal, senior MEP says

The UK could potentially re-enter the EU through a “Switzerland plus” deal that could be negotiated within months, according to Bernd Lange, the head of a European parliament committee involved in Brexit talks. Lange expressed his desire to see the UK back in the EU, highlighting the bloc's need for the UK's strong history of promoting open markets and democracy.

The former Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously rejected a Swiss-style relationship with the EU, primarily due to its implications for free movement and regulatory alignment. However, this arrangement is often viewed as a middle ground to full EU membership. Switzerland, while not an EU member, secured a deal last year that provides “frictionless access” to the single market through over 100 agreements, including access to the EU’s electricity market, space programs, and the Erasmus and Digital Europe research programs.

In return, Switzerland agreed to allow free movement of people and contribute €375 million (£326 million) annually to the EU’s economic and cohesion funds.

Lange, a German MEP and chair of the European parliament’s trade committee, suggested that the Swiss framework could serve as a model for the UK. However, he noted that it would be a “passive” agreement, limiting the UK's involvement in EU decision-making.