The UK could re-enter the EU under a "Switzerland plus" arrangement negotiated within months of any formal decision to strengthen ties with the bloc, according to the head of a European Parliament committee. Bernd Lange, who played a significant role during Brexit negotiations, expressed his desire to see the UK return, noting that the EU misses British involvement in decision-making due to its historical advocacy for open markets and democracy.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson previously rejected a Swiss-style relationship because it necessitates free movement of people and regulatory alignment, though such a model is widely regarded as a halfway house to full membership. Switzerland is not an EU member but secured a framework agreement last year guaranteeing frictionless access to the single market across more than 100 pacts. This grants Switzerland participation in the EU electricity market, research programs like Horizon and Digital Europe, and European disease control initiatives, in exchange for contributing financially to economic cohesion funds and accepting freedom of movement.
Lange, a German MEP who chairs the European Parliament's trade committee, suggested this framework could serve as a model for the UK, albeit with a "plus" designation to allow for deeper political engagement than Switzerland enjoys. He emphasized that the choice of future relations rests entirely with the UK, but estimated that a Switzerland-plus arrangement could be finalized swiftly despite potential political hurdles. Lange made the remarks while visiting London for meetings with officials working on the UK's evolving stance regarding European relations.
Additionally, Lange supported calls for the UK to avoid exclusion from the EU's proposed Made in Europe legislation, which could otherwise restrict British suppliers from public procurement tenders and corporate contracts. While French officials have pushed for quick adoption to counter cheap competition from China without delaying the lawmaking process, leaders from Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy have shown support for including the UK. Lange argued that British inclusion makes sense given existing alignment on labor and environmental laws, describing opposing views as irrational and potentially driven by domestic political timing ahead of upcoming elections.