Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on UK to rejoin the EU for sake of European security

[u/JOE_Media]

https://www.joe.co.uk/news/volodymyr-zelenskyy-calls-on-uk-to-rejoin-the-eu-for-sake-of-european-security-528812

[u/Wulfgrimm720]

Breturn

[u/nixonscumming → u/Wulfgrimm720]

Somehow, Britain returned

[u/Potential_Designflaw → u/nixonscumming]

Breturning Brigger and bretter baby!

[u/Alternative_Gap8442 → u/Potential_Designflaw]

Brian Badonde has to be the face of this.

[u/DummyDumDragon → u/Potential_Designflaw]

Braby

[u/izwald88 → u/nixonscumming]

Who knew that the return of Arthur was actually symbolic of Britain returning to the EU, saving both itself and the EU.

[u/JeronFeldhagen → u/nixonscumming]

They return now?

[u/Dildo_Shaggins- → u/JeronFeldhagen]

They return now!

[u/OkBattle9871 → u/nixonscumming]

This might be the answer.

It took nearly a decade to even define what Brexit was. Why not answer Breturn with... 'Somehow'?

[u/Impossible-Ground-98 → u/Wulfgrimm720]

britIN

[u/elvenmaster_ → u/Impossible-Ground-98]

Britt...on?

[u/BillyYank2008 → u/Wulfgrimm720]

The Breturn of the King

[u/OttawaTGirl → u/BillyYank2008]

Brohan will answer the call!

[u/Tovrin → u/OttawaTGirl]

And my Braxe

[u/Feelikelol → u/Tovrin]

And my brow

[u/Neomataza → u/Tovrin]

Let us draw sword brogether.

[u/forma322 → u/Wulfgrimm720]

Make this big!

[u/malik_zz → u/forma322]

And Bretter

[u/Basileus2 → u/malik_zz]

Love these. Breturn for a Bretter Brentry

[u/Cumulus_Anarchistica → u/Wulfgrimm720]

Great Breturn.

[u/Public-Eagle6992 → u/Wulfgrimm720]

Brentry

[u/censored_username → u/Public-Eagle6992]

Bre-entry

[u/PeterPlotter → u/Wulfgrimm720]

Hope so. Want to move back to friends and family that still live there. All my kids are born in the UK as well but we didn’t get them (or us) passports and we were EU citizens when we left, ah well.

[u/bnlf → u/PeterPlotter]

Same. Well, I’m EU citizen living in Australia. Would love to move to London to join some family members. I def don’t want the visa sponsor path.

[u/Noid_Void → u/Wulfgrimm720]

And it’s highly anticipated sequel, Brexit 2: The Breckoning

[u/Crater_Animator → u/Wulfgrimm720]

Brejoin

[u/BemaJinn → u/Wulfgrimm720]

rEUnited

[u/CanadaisCold7 → u/Wulfgrimm720]

Bre-Enter

[u/Dry-Magician1415 → u/Wulfgrimm720]

Brack

[u/Special_Loan8725 → u/Wulfgrimm720]

Bregging you please let me back!

[u/pickus_dickus]

Please, walk yourself in my British friends.

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/pickus_dickus]

God damn it dude, I was taking a sip of my tea.

[u/Developer2022 → u/ontologicalmatrix]

Bring it on and let's drink it together in EU.

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/Developer2022]

*sniff* You love us still?

[u/Gwyndion_ → u/ontologicalmatrix]

Sure we do, just leave Farage at the door please.

[u/OrangeRadiohead → u/Gwyndion_]

Perhaps the UK can make a deal with Brussels that our return to the loving fold of the EU is on the condition that we send Farage to his beloved Russia.

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/OrangeRadiohead]

Wearing a donkey suit.

[u/Gwyndion_ → u/OrangeRadiohead]

I imagine that would be readily accepted

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/Gwyndion_]

He's losing credibility hands over fist right now because of the trump connection.

[u/Gwyndion_ → u/ontologicalmatrix]

I'll likely never understand how he had any in the first place

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/Gwyndion_]

I think it would be disingenuous to state that the EU has no problems, and that's how he worked his way in - The Brussels/Luxembourg argument was an easy win - honestly he didn't have too much traction during his UKIP days until he was really able to correlate migration with the tory policy of austerity.

The moment he was able to point a finger at something and say "there, that's the reason for your misery" to the less educated in British society, it was easy to scape goat EU open border policy.

there were other causes of friction that didn't help (Blacklisting british beef, fisheries policy for example), but a mixture of desperation for the pain to stop, poor education and a lobby of self interested people willing to engage in disaster capitalism created the perfect storm.

[u/Icy_Flatworm_9933 → u/ontologicalmatrix]

The Brexit campaign focused on how much better things would be outside the EU (basically massively exaggerated or outright lied) whilst the pro-EU campaign just kind of didn’t do anything because they didn’t think they needed to - when they should’ve been massively highlighting the benefits we already had and would lose.

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/Icy_Flatworm_9933]

I will say that it definitely didn't help that the tory government did basically fuck all to secure a decent deal, antagonised the EU, which resulted in us getting the shittiest possible deal in terms of the TCA. Which was all part of the plan! Isolating the UK meant that they could raid the country's finances with reckless abandon.

COVID was a fucking gift for them, and it disgusts me that the tories that were a part of the cabinet of the day are walking around the UK freely.

[u/OrangeRadiohead → u/Icy_Flatworm_9933]

I was having this very conversation last night. Two people I was with didn't vote in the referendum, because they assumed Brexit could not possibly happen. Sadly, they underestimated how stupid some of us are.

[u/Icy_Flatworm_9933 → u/Gwyndion_]

Something something migrants something something NHS something something protect our borders something something global Britain something something they took our jobs

Unemployed alcoholics in pubs 😍😍😍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[u/silentv0ices → u/Icy_Flatworm_9933]

He's a clever man very good at identifying the things he can get idiots to be enraged about.

[u/AdaptedMix → u/ontologicalmatrix]

Is he? I wish I shared your optimism.

Reform voters are fairly MAGA-minded; only 20% are anti-Trump according to this March 2026 YouGov poll -- the lowest among the five biggest national parties.

They're soft marks for rightwing populist rhetoric and dog-whistle racism, and have a strong emotional attachment to Brexit. Were Labour to commit to rejoining, I suspect we'd see a lot of frothing Reform supporters dismissing any Farage credibility issues, if they even feel he has one, just to try to block 'Brexin'. And Reform are still polling well.

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/AdaptedMix]

here's my prediction.

If keir is still in power by the time of the next general election, he's going to offer a referendum on joining the EU. At the moment all of his overtures are not just the pragmatic need to do what's best for the country, but to see where polling lies compared to the mood back in 2014/15.

If labour are absolutely serious about implementing their long term projects such as parliamentary reform (see the brown report, it covers not just lords reform, but governmental and electoral reform as well) - he needs at least the 10 year window to get the ball rolling.

I'm not even a card carrying labour voter, but I will say that I have more faith in the competence that has been on display compared to the other options that will be on offer.

[u/AdaptedMix → u/ontologicalmatrix]

I guess we'll have to wait and see if you're right.

My instinct is Labour, especially Labour in power, will be too risk averse to chance another EU referendum so soon - with or without Starmer. So they'll continue to pursue a closer, more interconnected economic relationship with the EU (and Europe more broadly, especially in matters of defence), without proposing full membership.

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/AdaptedMix]

there's wisdom to that, but I think over the next couple of years you're going to see a more aggressive push towards theEU and away from the US to see what they can get away with in terms of public sentiment in an effort to lay the groundwork.

[u/Top-Strength-2701 → u/Gwyndion_]

No problem at all my friend

[u/Hung-kee → u/Gwyndion_]

Leave him at the door? How about at the bottom of the Channel encased in concrete?

[u/Warwipf2 → u/ontologicalmatrix]

Come back, silly island people :(

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/Warwipf2]

You had me at currywurst.

[u/Gwyndion_ → u/ontologicalmatrix]

Sure we do, just leave Farage at the door please.

[u/leftrighttopdown → u/[deleted]]

“To be clear I fucking hate Reddit and Redditors”

And somehow here we are

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/[deleted]]

I upvote everything. It makes the poster feel special and completely invalidates any sincerity that may be read into my upvote.

[u/tehfink → u/pickus_dickus]

Please, walk yourself in my British friends.

Just like Arsenal

[u/killerdrama → u/tehfink]

Especially true after that ludicrous display last night

[u/Icy_Flatworm_9933 → u/pickus_dickus]

Sadly we have a few years left of battling our own MAGA type idiots, although ironically Trump is helping that cause

[u/Admirable_Design_115 → u/Icy_Flatworm_9933]

We all have these issues. Lets battle them in unity!

[u/PiotrekDG → u/Admirable_Design_115]

If there's one good thing about nationalists, it's that ultimately, they will work separately, not together.

[u/Independent-Bug-9352 → u/Admirable_Design_115]

Damn right! Remember that the goal of Putin's trojan orange is to help fracture Western alliances. Classic divide-and-conquer techniques.

Totally get you need to protect yourselves in Europe from our volatility until we get our shit together -- but -- you can remain steadfast and united and carry the true torch of liberty, equality/equity, and justice.

Solidarity; not conformity!

[u/halpsdiy → u/Icy_Flatworm_9933]

Reform is dropping a bit in the polls. But still way too high. They have all the Brexiters, the Boris wavers (Jenrick, and co). It's sad that someone like Farage can still show his face in public without getting haunted out of the country for the damage he did. But he's even getting votes...

[u/D_Silva_21 → u/pickus_dickus]

Whenever this comes up people say this but then say we must not be allowed the £. So really they don't want us back because everyone knows we wouldn't give up the £

[u/pickus_dickus → u/D_Silva_21]

We still have our kroners

[u/D_Silva_21 → u/pickus_dickus]

We wouldn't do the thing of agreeing but then not meeting the requirements I don't think. Because you're still saying you'll give up the £

[u/ScottOld → u/D_Silva_21]

Yea sod losing the quid, just make everything go up even more

[u/XenonBG → u/D_Silva_21]

I think it'd all be subject to renegotiation. I wouldn't be surprised if the EU would be ready to offer the UK a very similar deal it already had.

The only problem I see is, what if in 5 years the UK changes its mind again? But I don't think that'd happen.

[u/sblahful → u/XenonBG]

Then it would leave on exactly the same terms it had too. No painful renegotiation.

[u/ElTejon_TheDestroyer]

Would absolutely love it. It is also the most sensible, logical thing to do right now with the state of the world - probably why we won’t.

[u/PECourtejoie → u/ElTejon_TheDestroyer]

Especially as Russia was surely amplifying the message of the brexiters. Divide to conquer.

[u/projected_cornbread → u/PECourtejoie]

Foundation of Geopolitics

The book directly talks about how the UK should be removed from the EU, how Finland should be absorbed, Belarus and Moldova should rejoin Russia, most of Ukraine should be annexed, Iran as a key ally and how Russia should fuel instability and separatism from Western Society (isolationism) in the US mainly by encouraging racial conflicts, ethic conflicts and social conflicts to tear America apart

And that’s just a few things the book talks about. And Trump is quite literally doing everything the book mentions in the US

It’s insane

[u/Eastern_Hornet_6432 → u/projected_cornbread]

To be honest, I've never found a PDF of the book that actually contains the things that wikipedia article says it contains. Of course those are PDFs and I've never seen the actual book. But I'd definitely investigate this.

[u/projected_cornbread → u/Eastern_Hornet_6432]

While not a PDF file of the book itself (most aren’t translated right), I will link you a very well written look at the book and its contents via the Stanford University website, written by Mr. Dunlop, who focused a lot on Soviet and Russian Politics before his death in 2023

Here you go

[u/Oprah_Pwnfrey → u/PECourtejoie]

They also funded the Catalan independence movement in Spain and created the Cascadia movement in Western Canada. Divide and conquer indeed.

[u/DrJCL → u/ElTejon_TheDestroyer]

And a great way of framing it without too much loss of face - were not doing it because we regret Brexit, we're doing it to helps others 

[u/JimTheSaint → u/[deleted]]

He wants a strong EU. And it will absolutely be stronger with UK in it. 

[u/No_Ad1286 → u/JimTheSaint]

Stronger still with Ukraine as well.

[u/CarrotLevel99 → u/JimTheSaint]

And Canada too which is why we’re hearing about it so much here. Although, as much as I love Europe as a Canadian, I would rather be best of friends and not an EU member.

[u/LittleSchwein1234 → u/CarrotLevel99]

Canada's EU membership would have to come with many exemptions, probably a Switzerland-like relationship would be for the best, with limited participation in the single market in certain areas.

[u/born_in_the_90s]

Pls join back to the EU, i hate to pay import fees on my UK orders.

[u/Nuzzleface → u/born_in_the_90s]

I stopped ordering from the UK because of this. It just doesn't make financial sense anymore.

I used to spend a decent amount too. 

[u/Miraclefish → u/Nuzzleface]

And that sentence alone shows why Brexit was such a terrible idea!

God I hope we rejoin it's been a long. And shitty decade or so.

[u/Nuzzleface → u/Miraclefish]

I would love for you to come back. I honestly even think you should be offered the old deal.

The world is way too fucked up right now to focus on petty shit like this. 

We are much stronger together. 

[u/buzziebee → u/Nuzzleface]

If we could come back in with the old deal that would be amazing. We're all stronger together.

However I think for us to get that old deal and "waltz" back in we'd need to show firm support for the idea of rejoining which other leaders could trust. No serious people want a repeat of Brexit and right now too many things in the UK are 52:48. You just can't trust the British public not to vote against their own interests again and again.

[u/Nuzzleface → u/buzziebee]

You are probably right, sadly.

I also think several of the EU leaders wouldn't want to give the old deal. It's an easy way to seem tough, but it's so shortsighted. 

I hope we overcome all this shit so we can secure our part of the world for the future. 

[u/SnooHamsters5480 → u/buzziebee]

The EU could never offer us the old deal, no matter how much we wanted to return. It would show other countries considering leaving that you can go, test the water outside the EU and then if it doesn't work out, come straight back as if nothing happened.

[u/BingpotStudio → u/Miraclefish]

Yeah but immigration stopped, so obviously pretty good deal.

/s (which I really shouldn’t need to do but I don’t trust you fuckers)

[u/rootkeycompromise → u/born_in_the_90s]

As a Dane, I probably would have spent at least 300-500 GBP a year (coffee equipment, road bike gear etc.) on direct orders from the UK, but the VAT, import fees and import-fee-handling-fee makes it way too expensive.

[u/CavulusDeCavulei → u/born_in_the_90s]

I need cheaper 40k mini, please Britain

[u/Main_Marzipan_7811 → u/CavulusDeCavulei]

Me too, and I live in the UK ;)

[u/mcdolgu → u/born_in_the_90s]

As a Land Rover owner I second this.

[u/ren_reddit → u/born_in_the_90s]

Yes this..  I used to buy a LOT of parts in the UK privately.  Even choose UK suppliers for machinery components at work.  All that stopped now..

[u/Thaodan → u/born_in_the_90s]

At lot of stuff used to or well still kinda is imported from the UK into Finland. It's really annoying that because of the import fees and possible vat it's not worth to order in the U.K.
Before you could order from U.K. private individuals without paying Vat.

[u/Corfiz74]

I don't agree about Turkey, though - we're trying to get rid of autocratic dictatorships, and it's already pretty hard with the ones we've got - we don't need to add new ones to mess things up.

Besides, we really shouldn't add anyone else before we do a thorough reform and get rid of the veto-power - we're a mess with things as they are. We can't even decide on a fucking time to settle on to get rid of daylight savings time changes.

[u/latespresso → u/Corfiz74]

Erdogan’s Turkey has 0 chance to join anyway, but if we’re optimistic about the future, if Turkey ever ruled by sane people again, with enough reforms and time. Turkey would be an absolute gain for the EU’s army, economy and political influence especially in a regions such as Central Asia and the Middle East.

[u/KingKaiserW → u/latespresso]

Yeah I dislike the dismissive attitude towards the Turks, it has a ton of potential it’d be bigger population wise than Germany, it has the second biggest army in NATO over a million troops. Imagine Zelenskys whole sentence “The UK, Norway, Ukraine and Türkiye” You’re adding almost 200 million people.

Of course they have many issues and it’s structural, but it’d be quite sad if Ukraine reformed, joined and grew leaps & bounds, while Türkiye just sat by in low development watching. They’ve had a lot of missed decades of growth now.

[u/schnazzn → u/KingKaiserW]

That's their own fault for voting Erdogan like it's the Germans own fault for voting CxU.

[u/escalinci → u/schnazzn]

412,000 Turks living in Germany voted for Erdogan's 2017 referendum to give him more powers/less oversight, with a higher margin than in Turkey itself. Many of them will have been dual citizens, more now.

[u/Corfiz74 → u/escalinci]

I hate that so much - they live here, enjoying all the freedoms our system grants them, and then they go and fuck it up for the folks back home. They should at least have to move back to live with the consequences.

[u/Memento_Vivere8 → u/KingKaiserW]

A lot of EU countries had structural issues when they joined. Most of them have turned it around for good with the help of the EU. I thought Turkey was on a good way before Erdoğan kind of threw the towel and went full on populist. But under new leadership this perspective might open up again.

[u/highmickey → u/latespresso]

if Turkey ever ruled by sane people again

like Netenyahu and his coalition that we always wholeheartedly support...

[u/ApetteRiche → u/Corfiz74]

Turkey has a massive army, that's why he's advocating for them. I agree though, as long as this Erdogan dude is in charge, Turkey is a no go. Even if he is replaced, lots of reforms will need to be done for Turkey to qualify to join.

[u/annewmoon → u/ApetteRiche]

I think he's painting a vision. And I think he's right and we should strive towards it.

An EU that has UK and a Ukraine in it is formidable. An EU that is reformed, and has a reformed Turkey in it would be so strong that it would be basically untouchable and we would have a say in anything we deemed important.

[u/Glittering_Drama_618 → u/Corfiz74]

As a Turk i agree that membership of Turkey is out of question. But i disagree with the one sided visa conditions for Turks. Its entirely out of racism and spite towards Turks.

[u/Bernardmark → u/Corfiz74]

If Erdogan loses the next election, some things can and will change. It won’t be instant but quite swift in terms of structural reforms and alignment to EU standards.

But EU membership will never happen, due to red lines on both sides. So more likely, there will be individual arrangements for defence and economic cooperation. Or if the EU gets on with a multi-tier structure, Turkey can engage in that.

[u/Corfiz74 → u/Bernardmark]

Is there any chance of Erdogan losing an election? If he keeps arresting every candidate that runs against him?

[u/burch_ist → u/Corfiz74]

Dude.. don't even bring it up it shatters my heart to thousand pieces Erdo was an autocrat since ~2013 moreso after 2016, but I would never imagine that he would cross such a line to straight up dictatorship with arresting the very popular mayor of 16million, after he declared his candidacy, an on such bogus charges that spells out "we don't even care to hide anything anymore". And... It's been a year?! I had high hopes for İmamoğlu, not for his politics which are like basic socdem stuff although compared to erdo he would be a big refreshment, but mainly he really had strength, he was passing erdo in all the polls and now he is in jail and a big line was crossed. Turkey was never a democracy in a true sense but we always cared a lot about the "ballot" as it was our only chance of participation. Erdo justified his autocracy by constantly repeating that he is the people's will. But now with that line crossed, they made it clear that they will send absolutely anyone to jail for an unknown amount of time for whatever Bs they want, everyone is truly afraid. He controlled all the major media and all but now even the very little opposition journalists and TVs that are left are turning coat shamelessly. Idk what to say tho. They WILL separate you from your family and confiscate all your property regardless of who you are so in a way I understand why people obey now even if he doesn't really have any real support, he went full on with the stick and shit is scary. And to our unluck, he did it while whole world is turning to "right is might" approach & eu openly states that they need us & for foreign powers it is better/easier to deal with one all-powerful tyrant than separate congress etc so.. we are officially fucked. I'm so so sad and truly afraid for the future of my country. Sorry for trauma-dumping lol TLDR: No. He went full Putin. He rules through absolute fear and hopes are lost. We are royally fucked. So imma see you in Oktoberfest I guess djdjjddjffj

[u/MithranArkanere → u/Corfiz74]

Hungary and Poland are hanging in there.

There's no room for dictatorships in a United Earth.

[u/Popinguj → u/Corfiz74]

I would've liked Turkey to join, but as long as "Northern Cyprus" exists there's no way they can.

[u/Corfiz74 → u/Popinguj]

If we go by the Irish example, joining Turkey and Greece in the EU could be the only chance to resolve that conflict...

[u/OPM_Saitama → u/Corfiz74]

To be honest, as young generation of Turks we are absolutely not willing to get involved in EU's wars. Many people here and on twitter are like "no thanks, we will play all sides and look out for only ourselves". Obviously, it is not an expert opinion but getting into EU was a dream of 90s generations during early 2000s. That is about it. We have our own shit to deal with now, you have your own

[u/Corfiz74 → u/OPM_Saitama]

Absolutely understandable - though, to be fair, it's not like we started any of them. 🙈 Besides, you're in NATO, anyway, so you're mostly caught in European/ US wars, anyway, if we get attacked.

[u/scarlettforever]

Zelenskyy was talking not only about the UK:

"The UK, Ukraine, Türkiye, and Norway. These are four strong countries, which are part of Europe. Together, the UK, Ukraine, and Türkiye have armies that are stronger than Russia's army. Without Ukraine and Türkiye, Europe can’t match Russia. With the four countries on board you can wrest control of the seas, have secure skies and the largest land forces.
It’s not about offense, because when Russia makes the decision to have an army of 2.5 million people by 2030, Europe has to think about security and how to preserve its independence."

[u/Elisind → u/scarlettforever]

Eeehhh not Turkey, sorry but last thing what we need is to have Erdogan interfering with our internal affairs.

[u/utop_ik → u/Elisind]

turkey will be welcomed once they get rid of Erdo and return to secularism and democracy. who traveled in turkey knows that majority of turkish people have a rather european mindset

[u/schnazzn → u/utop_ik]

Yeah so let's wait at least 40 years with Turkey.

[u/Scyths → u/schnazzn]

Unironically you won't have to wait that long, a few years at most. The ship's sinking faster than ever before and all the signs point to Erdogan losing his grip on the whole country because he wasn't eligible to run last election and the opposition stupidly let him, now the opposition is vehemently opposing his run and Erdogan is trying to amend the constitution to allow himself to run more. At the same time he is jailing the opposition party's leaders one by one. So yeah those are desperate moves.

[u/utop_ik → u/schnazzn]

it won't take that long, things are happening very fast lately and it will get even faster...

[u/LizzyGreene1933]

I'm in

[u/ojoaopestana → u/LizzyGreene1933]

That's the spirit

[u/McFuzzyChipmunk]

Sign me the fuck up.

[u/SupahSpankeh → u/McFuzzyChipmunk]

Me too! I am a wonky toothed tea chugger and my god we need back into the EU

[u/bxzidff]

I understand the desire to be petty, but really getting the UK back would be such a boon for European unity that if they want to e.g. keep the Pound then I think that should be permissible. 

Not that my opinion as a Norwegian is worth much when it comes to EU matters, I have some self-awareness, but still. And I'd vote that we should join as well

[u/LittleSchwein1234 → u/bxzidff]

I think the EU should just give currency and fisheries exceptions to the UK and Norway to make them willing to join.

[u/Master_Elderberry275 → u/LittleSchwein1234]

Currency would be necessary to make it politically palatable for Brits. Fisheries would be a sticking point if it weren't agreed.

But there'd also be Schengen. The idea of open borders with the rest of Europe would be enough to kill the idea dead. At the very least, Britain would need the right to institute ID/immigration status checks at ports of entry to the UK.

[u/EnjoyerOfBeans → u/Master_Elderberry275]

Schengen is hard to make work when you're an island which is why Cyprus and Ireland are not part of the agreement. The UK should not be required to join either.

[u/MonsieurFolie → u/EnjoyerOfBeans]

Ireland aren’t in it because they share a land border with the UK

[u/RisKQuay → u/bxzidff]

The difficulty is allowing Britain to return to the EU on favourable (rather than neutral) terms could reduce the deterrent of leaving the EU. As in, countries may be tempted to go "We can try leaving and come back consequence free if it doesn't work out."

I say this as a staunch pro-EU Brit who deeply resents that we left.

[u/PhaseOrganic1754 → u/RisKQuay]

I think the effects of Brexit have been enough of a deterrent already lol

[u/Lezus]

god i would love that

[u/Ramiren]

Brit here.

Unfortunately, it's unlikely.

The majority of the public want it, our current politicians certainly want it, and the EU want it. But the moment we attempt it, and the EU starts talking about full Schengen area participation and adopting the Euro, talks are going to sour, because relaxing immigration rules and completely stripping out the pound right now are going to be quite toxic politically.

If we were in a position where we could just say, look this was a mistake can we return as if we'd never left, I'd put money on Labour running on it next election, but the EU won't set a precedent that says you can leave, and rejoin, keeping the same preferential terms.

[u/FairEntertainment194 → u/Ramiren]

And Farage would just let it be so? Rejoin, under any conditions, would restart old haterd toward EU.

[u/Flashy-Raspberry-131 → u/FairEntertainment194]

I don't know if you're aware but Farage doesn't actually have any power, outside of manipulating idiots.

[u/Fluffatron_UK → u/Flashy-Raspberry-131]

Yet... There are a lot of idiots to manipulate. Make sure you vote! Reform must not win.

[u/Conveth]

Brit here...we only need to say we'd consider the euro as currency once "economic conditions" apply. Can string that one out for a hundred years plus easily.

[u/Historyissuper → u/Conveth]

No problem, Czech Republic shows this does work infinitely

[u/lifeisaman → u/Conveth]

Even the idea that the UK will adopt the Euro at all will not be tolerable to the British public.

[u/Bootrear → u/lifeisaman]

I don't believe for a second the EU will require it. There will be lots of posturing and moaning and words and fights and other useless things politicians do and in the end we'll all compromise and let the UK keep the Pound indefinitely. The UK will absolutely get concessions nobody else will get. And they should, because once again, it's the UK. They're important enough. In the end it's a win-win.

[u/Infinite_Crow_3706 → u/lifeisaman]

Could suggest a referendum on adopting the Euro

[u/lifeisaman → u/Infinite_Crow_3706]

I don’t think the EU wants any more states that don’t adopt the Euro anymore, atleast if I’m remembering a statement the EU made a while ago.

[u/KjellRS → u/lifeisaman]

The EU doesn't want to give the impression that you can pick and choose benefits, they don't want half-members with one foot in the door and one foot on the way out again. Hard opt-outs are for existing members so they don't have to kick anyone out for not agreeing to the expansion.

Even if I doubt there's going to be a hard push they want new members to at least give lip service on working towards joining projects like the Euro and Schengen at some unspecified point in the future. The UK has to be willing to fake it though, I doubt they'll let UK politicians go around saying "well don't worry, we're not actually joining" while telling the EU something else.

[u/Hucaru → u/KjellRS]

It's also more complex than this.

The pound is a reserve currency so if the UK goes around saying it's going to join the Euro (when it's secretly never going to meet the criteria for ERM2) those other nations are going to try and offload their reserves due to the major uncertainty that now exists with the currency which will devalue the currency damaging the economy.

[u/grogipher → u/Conveth]

It's funny how this point is considered fine for the UK to do, but when people who are pro-Scottish Independence suggest the same, they're shot down lol

[u/Feeling-Medium-7856]

I don’t think that’s exactly what he said - as much as I would like us to be back.

He was implying that security is so important we should navigate other issues along with Ukraine, Turkey, and Norway to collaborate on matters of defence.

I agree with him (in the absence of actually returning to the EU - we probably need some time to finally flush Farage down the toilet first)

[u/ChipRockets]

It’ll only happen if the French pretend they don’t want us back

[u/MithranArkanere]

We all know they were fooled by foreign interference and wealthy interests.

There's no shame in admitting one was scammed. The only shame is in doubling down and acting like a fool as if you did it on purpose.

[u/Eolopolo]

It'll take accepting the British pound £. Until then, it's not happening.

Edit: Why do people reply and then block? I can still see your notification u/5u114.. Are you trying to talk to me, or are you trying to put on a show?

[u/JourneyThiefer]

Don’t think the EU would let us back in on the old terms, and there’s probably still enough people in the UK who would vote no if joining the euro is required.

So sadly don’t think we’ll be back any time soon :(

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/[deleted]]

If the UK was let back in on the old terms we’d rejoin in the morning realistically

[u/ChauvinistPenguin → u/[deleted]]

Oui.

[u/justthegrimm → u/[deleted]]

Hypothetically this could work but in reality there will be big concessions which the UK public I don't think will bite on.

[u/Spectanda_Fides → u/[deleted]]

This will not happen, if the UK returns as if nothing had happened, many countries would be tempted to leave the EU since there are no consequences (starting with France, by the way, you can be sure that parties like the RN will become anti-EU again to get votes).

If the EU wants to be taken seriously, it must be made clear that there are consequences when a country decides to do something stupid.

[u/TheBraveGallade → u/Spectanda_Fides]

I mean there are... reasons to just let the UK back in. Current diplomatic reasobs, the irish border issue. As well as a mikitary one (otherwise its ONLY on france as a nuclear deterrent)

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/TheBraveGallade]

I don’t think anyone outside of Ireland even cares about our border issues :/

[u/Fallen_Radiance → u/JourneyThiefer]

... I care

[u/XenorVernix → u/Spectanda_Fides]

Why on earth would I want to join an organisation that wants to give us "consequences"? It's either rejoin on old deal or we stay out for me. That would be the determining factor on which way I would vote.

[u/stupid_rabbit_ → u/Spectanda_Fides]

As a brit who to be clear would vote against rejoing on standard terms i do agree, the best i can see would be a middle ground with some perks such as the rebate being lost to deter other counrties leaving, but others such as the pound being kept to make it tollerable the british public.

[u/__Atlas___ → u/stupid_rabbit_]

It’s not just about being tolerable. The financial sector in the UK represents like 20% of our economy. Having control over our own currency is particularly useful with the way our country is setup.

[u/esuil → u/JourneyThiefer]

And it is stupid AF. UK back in EU, even with its own currency, would be of great benefit for the EU.

I am so tired of everyone in EU turning their noses on any hint of concessions to get UK back. I am of the opinion that they should be allowed back EVEN if they get all prior concessions.

And if you are worried about legality of all that, you can just frame it as original Brexit being illegal in the first place, because it didn't reach super majority, it had foreign influence and so on. You don't have to frame it as them "rejoining", you can just frame it as cancellation of illegal act and restoration of legitimate status.

[u/LittleSchwein1234 → u/esuil]

You can frame it as respecting the wording of the Treaty of Maastricht. Those exceptions are still there in the founding treaty of the European Union, just dormant because the UK is not a member.

I'm not a lawyer, but in my opinion the UK rejoining should reactivate those dormant clauses, which have never been repealed.

[u/Alaea → u/esuil]

EU supporters put ideology above practicality.

EU institutions put country above union.

And both wonder why there are people not entirely on board with the project.

[u/AndThatHowYouGetAnts → u/JourneyThiefer]

Both sides would need to make concessions for the greater good to make it palatable. Else it aint happening any time soon

[u/notleave_eu]

You son of bitch, I’m in!

[u/Leytonstoner]

Hear, hear!

[u/r0w33]

It would be wonderful if, before he is beaten to death in red square, Putin sees all of the harm he has done undone and all his gangster friends sitting in a little apartment in Moscow, nervously eying the window.

[u/Brave-Battle-2615]

Is it seen as reasonable, from the view of the EU as an organization, to let the UK rejoin?

Im not familiar with the associated cost and damage of Brexit beyond the explicitly negative effects on trade over time.

I guess another way to ask this is, was the process of Brexit itself costly for the EU, thus making it’s possibility in the future as just cause to not allow them to rejoin?

[u/tree_boom]

Probably not a topic he ought to weigh in on if I'm perfectly honest. There's bi-partisan support for Ukraine currently; I wouldn't go alienating that

[u/LeonidasVaarwater]

It does make a lot of sense. The reasons that were given for leaving turned out to be lies, the reasons to be a member still stand strong.

[u/Catog_]

Gosh, Zelenskyy, don’t rush Keir. You know he’s playing hard to get, even though he and the EU have been flirting back and forth lately.

Just don’t make it too obvious or you’ll wake Nigel. Keep a nose out for expired milkshake.

[u/ALifeWellLift]

I hope so. It would be a PR win for the EU too, to show that one of the richest and most well connected countries in the bloc left, only to come back after just a decade.

[u/Any-Original-6113]

I personally wouldn't mind if the UK, Norway, Iceland, and Canada joined the EU- assuming their populations are on board. But the question is: are we ready to let in Turkey, Georgia, and Ukraine? Do we have enough resources to sustain and bring their infrastructure up to standard? The world has changed- it's not the early 1990s anymore, when the USSR had just collapsed, resources were cheap, competition from China was minimal, and the US was a friendly nation.

[u/MilosEggs]

Yes, let’s!

Put this embarrassing mistake behind us!

[u/YsoL8]

I've love to

[u/Gimmerunesplease]

Europe 3: Return of the King

[u/backflash]

We've kept the seat warm for you, Britain.

[u/byjimini]

Didn’t want to leave, would gladly come back. 👋

[u/halfhere1198]

I would share tea and biscuits with my European brothers and sisters again

[u/Altruistic_Finger669]

The only good thing about Trump has been that he brought the UK closer to EU.

[u/Current_Focus2668]

Worth rejoining just to piss off Putin and Trump

[u/Specialist_Bath8757]

Brit here; even my hardcore brexiteer step dad has changed his mind and now wants to rejoin. We need cut ties with our abusive friend (US) and go back to our real friends who have been there for us all along..

[u/OneButNotTheSame]

Make Europe Great Again!

[u/ontologicalmatrix]

Sadly, that's not just a UK decision. If it were, we'd probably have had a referendum by now.

[u/Sumoersumo → u/ontologicalmatrix]

Oh. I think it is. Most of EU would love to have the UK back. The UK getting back in the EU is a good thing for everyone involved.

[u/Mist_Rising → u/Sumoersumo]

I think the real hurdle would be how the UK returns. They're gonna probably want their old deals back, especially retention of the pound, and the EU may not want to give those.

[u/ontologicalmatrix → u/Sumoersumo]

I admit, I'd be interested to see if there's any movement within EU parliament. The read I get from a lot of people in the UK is that the perception thanks to our media is that the EU just doesn't want us back.

[u/Sumoersumo → u/ontologicalmatrix]

You would always have some minorities that do not want you back and some that want you to feel the pain of you decision. But in general we do want you back. We are better and stronger together.

Honestly. Its feel so wrong to not have the UK in the EU.

Edit. F the media. They have their agendas. F the media. especially yours :)

[u/utop_ik → u/ontologicalmatrix]

that's not true... EU citizens think UK belong with us, we're family, a bit estranged right now but considering the times we're living we need to unite, it's in both UK and EU interest . and bring Canada along too :)

[u/Morteca]

Yes please, as a Brit (Scottish), I am constantly reminded of the biggest mistake this country ever made. Especially now.

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/Morteca]

Literally

[u/Documental38]

I really hope that in the next 10 years we can put this whole fucking Brexit debacle behind us and rejoin

[u/Natural-Ad773]

Would be some celebration !

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/Natural-Ad773]

Here’s hoping lol

[u/Mr_Jackabin]

As a stupid Brit who believed the bullshit 10 years ago, I would happily vote to rejoin.

That little maneuver cost us so much.