Could the U.K ever rejoin the EU?

username4882260

Would it be possible? Would E.U leaders ever accept Britain re applying?

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Reply 1

BlueIndigoViolet

Original post by DeesideEwan

Would it be possible? Would E.U leaders ever accept Britain re applying?

Would definitely be possible as many leaders have welcomed, but the EU would accept no negotiation of any rebates..

Reply 2

Fullofsurprises

Yes, in a heartbeat.

I think the most likely thing now is that the EU leaders will try to make it into an integrated federal superstate, but this will fail under pressure from their own populations and from the US and Russia. They will then at last go down a more relaxed genuine loose association path and the UK will join that in some sort of semi-detached way around 2030 or so.

Reply 3

ColinDent

Original post by BlueIndigoViolet

Would definitely be possible as many leaders have welcomed, but the EU would accept no negotiation of any rebates..

Obviously it would be possible, would it be likely however is another question.
As you correctly state we would lose our rebate, we would also have to commit to joining up to Schengen and adopting the Euro.
Those things alone I feel would be enough to stop the likelihood of us rejoining for a fair amount of time, let alone the fact that I believe our independence will be a success.

Reply 4

the bear

Britain is like a violinist who has flounced out of a symphony orchestra and ends up busking on the pavement outside.

Reply 5

ColinDent

Original post by the bear

Britain is like a violinist who has flounced out of a symphony orchestra and ends up busking on the pavement outside.

More like Vanessa-Mae, successful and hot.

Reply 6

Fullofsurprises

Original post by the bear

Britain is like a violinist who has flounced out of a symphony orchestra and ends up busking on the pavement outside.

Who doesn't quite know what tune to play and who has been offered a new book of american tunes with titles like "just do as we say" and "give us all your money and you'll be fine" which he is nervously thumbing.

Reply 7

Stiff Little Fingers

In theory yes but not on the terms we've had - there would be no rebate or opt out from the euro, Schengen etc., which would likely put it beyond the interests of most of the public for a long while - even large portions of the remain campaign were after the status quo we had and not a closer union with the EU

Reply 8

Rakas21

Original post by DeesideEwan

Would it be possible? Would E.U leaders ever accept Britain re applying?

As others have alluded to it is likely that we could rejoin if we chose to albeit as part of the core rather than keeping our detached relationship.

Whether it’s likely is another question and largely depends on a number of factors from our own policy, the EU’s policies, the global backdrop. In theory the majority of today’s europhile youth will reach median electoral age in 15-25 years so if there is a push it is most likely to succeed then however if we have not rejoined by 2040 then it’s unlikely we ever will as that generation becomes old and is replaced by one without the kind of emotional attachment that some of today’s young have.

My own belief is that we probably won’t. The EU is on the course to a more federal future and the UK would never surrender it’s own currency or armed forces.

Reply 9

Tortle

No, hopefully Italy and Poland will leave soon too
Populism is the way forward

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 10

Wired_1800

Original post by DeesideEwan

Would it be possible? Would E.U leaders ever accept Britain re applying?

The UK will probably never join. We don't subscribe to the authoritarian approach from the EU. Single currency, single bank, single army, single parliament and no sovereignty.

Reply 11

Fullofsurprises

Original post by Rakas21

My own belief is that we probably won’t. The EU is on the course to a more federal future and the UK would never surrender it’s own currency or armed forces.

Apart from Macron and the Commission, very few people in Europe seem to be actually pressing for this now. I feel dubious that the glorious federal superstate has much of a reality future.

Reply 12

Rakas21

Original post by Fullofsurprises

Apart from Macron and the Commission, very few people in Europe seem to be actually pressing for this now. I feel dubious that the glorious federal superstate has much of a reality future.

I suspect that people thought the same before 1986 and then again the year before there was an actual single currency.

The EU eventually originating from a collection of about three dozen states means things can’t happen all at once overnight but the direction of movement each year has been clear (even without a treaty over the last decade they still cemented a banking union) and that is even with a dubious UK as a member. Even now they have Balkan States wanting to join and adopting the Euro despite the loss of sovereignty.

Italy (and if polls are to be believed Belgium) may be able to slow further integration after their elections in 2023 and 2024 but with Macron and a new a German europhile in place by 2022 they will seek a new batch of intergration.

Reply 13

Fullofsurprises

Original post by Rakas21

Not sure you're picking a good example with the banking union - that was more of a piece with the panic measures after the financial crash and the efforts of the ECB to be a genuine central bank (it still isn't in reality) and not just a tool of German banking policy.

Maybe you're right about the other states, but I see so much resistance from people across Europe to federalism that I really don't think Macron can push it much further without hitting some major brick walls. That's if he lasts himself - he's hardly Mr Populaire at home maintenant.