In the UK, disillusionment with Brexit has set in. The limitations of Boris Johnson’s Trade and Cooperation Agreement are evident. But Labour’s Keir Starmer, the likely winner of the general election, has only modest ambitions for Britain’s relationship with the EU.
In this Discussion Paper, Andrew Duff proposes a bolder approach, advocating a phased return to EU membership, starting with a new customs union, followed by association with the Single Market and political cooperation in security and defence.
However, the paper also argues that discussing any changes will be challenging, as the EU has lost interest in negotiating with the UK, focusing instead on internal issues. Despite the complexities and challenges of Brexit, a new category of affiliate membership could be a useful stepping stone towards becoming a full member state.
Read the full paper here.