A 'Switzerland Plus' Model for UK-EU Ties
Bernd Lange, a German MEP who chairs the European Parliament's trade committee and was deeply involved in Brexit negotiations, has said the UK could re-enter the EU through a 'Switzerland plus' package. He stated that such a deal could be negotiated within months of any UK decision to deepen ties with the bloc. Lange expressed a personal desire to see the UK return, noting that the EU misses the UK's strong record of promoting open markets and democracy in its decision-making.[S1][S2]
The "Switzerland plus" idea is modelled on how Switzerland deals with Brussels. Though it never joined the EU, Switzerland signed a framework agreement last year that locked in barrier-free single market access through over 100 accords. That arrangement opens up the EU electricity market, space programmes, Erasmus and Digital Europe research to the Swiss, along with membership of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. In return, Switzerland accepted free movement of people and an annual contribution of €375m (£326m) to EU economic and cohesion funds.[S1]
Lange called the Swiss arrangement "passive", since it leaves the country outside EU decision-making. A gradual, step-by-step approach, he said, opens up plenty of options, but he would rather see the UK rejoin the political decision-making process and engage politically. He labelled the model "Switzerland plus" because it entails a degree of involvement short of full membership. According to Lange, only the UK can decide what relationship it wants, yet if it chose something along those lines, a deal could come together fast even amid political turbulence.[S1]
Made in Europe Debate and Political Reactions
Lange likewise supported Andy Burnham's push for the UK to be kept inside the Made in Europe legislation, which would otherwise shut British suppliers out of public procurement tenders and certain corporate contracts, car fleets among them. On Thursday, French and German leaders were said to be near agreement on a plan letting the UK in provided it matched the EU's 2024 tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports. Earlier in the week, Mercedes' boss warned that barring the UK would amount to the EU deliberately damaging its own car industry.[S1]
Burnham's position has support from the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. France, which brought forward the legislation, objected, contending the law had to be passed quickly to shield against low-cost Chinese competition and that admitting the UK and other allies might slow the legislative process. Lange argued the UK should "of course" be included, since it already matches EU environmental standards and employment rules. He called France's stance "not rational" and "also so emotional", hinting it might reflect a wish to appear to put France first ahead of next April's presidential vote, which Marine Le Pen, an opponent of globalism, could win.[S1]
Excluding the UK from Made in Europe might additionally spark a legal challenge over the trade and cooperation agreement, which lets British goods enter the single market without barriers provided they satisfy the bloc's standards. The Made in Europe package, also called the Industrial Accelerator Act, is due to receive political sign-off late this year or in early 2027, leaving Burnham limited time to have clauses added that treat the UK as European under the law. Lange nonetheless saw room afterwards, pointing to European Parliament procedures in which three committees hold scrutiny powers, and to 5,100 amendments, one covering UK inclusion, signalling a drawn-out process.[S1]
