German Media: Ten Years After Brexit Referendum, Will the EU Be Willing to Reconcile?

Ten years have passed since the UK’s Brexit referendum. Today, a sense of “regret over Brexit” has emerged in British society. Multiple polls show that the majority of Britons now believe leaving the EU was a mistake. Yet, amid ongoing shifts in the global geopolitical landscape and continuous internal adjustments within the EU, the distance between genuine reconciliation remains considerable.

If the UK were to rejoin the EU after Brexit, playful nicknames for such a potential “fairy-tale reunion” have already surfaced—such as “Brejoin” (rejoining), “Breturn” (returning), or “Bre-entry” (re-entering).

But a more serious question arises: will London truly push forward a political agenda aimed at rejoining the EU?

This issue has been amplified by the possibility of the Labour Party challenging Prime Minister Starmer’s leadership. Potential rival Andy Burnham has stated he hopes to see the UK rejoin the EU in the future.

Yet what about the other party—the EU? Would it be willing to welcome Britain back?

"Principally willing to reaccept the UK"

Agence France-Presse interviewed several European diplomats, all of whom requested anonymity when discussing this topic. They unanimously agreed that their respective countries are, in principle, open to reaccepting the UK into the EU.

One diplomat pointed out that, in today’s highly fragmented world order, reaccepting a nation with nuclear weapons, one of the world’s largest economies, and a permanent seat on the UN Security Council holds significant strategic value for Europe.

Yet they also emphasized that London must prove it is genuinely ready to assume the responsibilities and obligations of full membership.

One diplomat said: "In terms of mindset, they are not yet prepared to accept the burdens that come with being a member."

Others further noted that without this "difficult former partner," EU affairs have become smoother.

For instance, one diplomat remarked: "Now things are easier to handle. We no longer need to constantly navigate around various exceptions in every policy; overall consistency has improved."

The EU after breaking up with Britain is no longer the same EU

Britain never joined the eurozone or the Schengen Area’s free movement regime, and long sought rebates on EU budget contributions—factors now widely seen as signs of its half-hearted commitment to European integration.

One diplomat quipped semi-seriously that perhaps the EU misses Britain most for its excellent English language skills, as post-Brexit EU documents have increasingly featured awkward, stilted "European English."

Others hold more positive memories of Britain. Sebastian Maillard from the Chatham House think tank noted that, from the perspective of economically liberal or geopolitically Atlanticist nations, Britain once served as a crucial counterbalance to France’s “sovereigntist tendencies.”

But in recent years, the EU has increasingly adopted policies championed by France—from “strategic autonomy” and “Europe first” to joint borrowing—none of which would have easily gained support under past British political conditions.

Maillard said: "Britain hasn’t truly grasped how much the EU has changed over the past decade."

This transformation has largely been driven by external factors—including the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s rise, and the policies of U.S. President Trump.

Yet one diplomat believes Brexit itself strengthened internal cohesion within the EU, convincing skeptics that leaving was a mistake.

He said: "This has fostered more mature discussions within the EU," and pointed out that right-wing populists across Europe no longer advocate exiting the EU.

"The question is no longer ‘Should we stay in the EU?’ but rather ‘What kind of EU do we want?’"

Will the EU Continue to Tolerate Britain’s Pick-and-Choose Approach?

But will Britain actually want to join the EU as it is today?

The domestic political situation in the UK is far from optimistic—especially with the hard-right, anti-EU Reform UK party surging in opinion polls, making any renewed rapprochement with the EU even more complicated.

European countries also remain cautious about building closer ties, fearing such links might be dismantled again in the future.

Moreover, officials note it is nearly impossible to allow Britain to rejoin with the same “special privileges” it once enjoyed.

Meanwhile, negotiations over post-Brexit fallout continue to proceed with difficulty, raising questions about whether relations can be further eased—and reigniting long-standing EU criticism of Britain’s “pick-and-mix” approach.

For example, talks on the UK joining the EU defense program collapsed due to cost disagreements.

And Britain’s proposal to join only the single market for goods while excluding capital, services, and free movement of people was rejected in Brussels. Most EU member states insist on the principle of “all or nothing”—either full membership or none at all.

Nevertheless, some progress has been made in certain areas.

London and Brussels plan to reach a series of agreements during the summit on July 22, including standards for food and animal health, a youth mobility program, and interoperability of carbon emission trading systems.

These clearly fall short of a “romantic reunion,” but for those hoping for a renewed UK-EU partnership, such incremental steps may currently be the only realistic path forward.

Source: DW

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868541480102924/

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