A majority of Britons support rejoining the European Union's single market even though that would mean the restoration of the free movement of workers from the bloc, according to a poll published on Wednesday.
I think it's misleading to say that EU would make steep demands, because it gives the impression that EU would deliberately try to make UK joining difficult. UK shouldn't get any special treatment (good or bad) and they should get the exact same standard joining procedure all other countries would get. The standard procedure is already going to have their panties twisted, no need to give them a legitimation reason to complain.
Let's keep in mind the UK dove into directions so divergent from the EU, on such trivial matters, just to face those demands - so trivial it will feel as petty - will make the UK negotiators twist their hands in anger.
And to crown it all, just the demand to drop the pound would be nurderous to the british pride.
Absolutely. I think we're on the same page that the process of joining is going to have the UK complain and whine at every step. My point was rather that saying EU would make demands so steep could be taken as EU wanting make an example out of UK. That's not really what we should want because we know the UK is going to complain and treating them harsher than any other applicant would somewhat legitimize their grievances. I think a better wording for "EU would make demands so steep, crawling on..." would be "UK will think the demands are so steep, crawling on glass..." because then instead of seeming like EU is being unfair it's going to seem like UK simply doesn't want to play ball (which is how we have ended up in this situation in the first place).
It would not be that bad. The EU wants the UK back not only because both sides would greatly economically benefit from this but because one of the main reasons for EU's existence is the continuation of peace in Europe. So the UK must be part of the EU.
My country has had the country as an ally for centuries and we went to great lenghts to facilitate the movements of brits to and from but the UK needs to recognize it is not more than any other member of the EU.
That stupid and hollow pride needs to come down and mistakes have to be recognized.
It is in their best interest to give the UK the same standing it once had, because it will make any country think twice about leaving. The UK has suffered outside of the EU, and should it return and see growth, it'll be the closest ally to the group that you could possibly have.
So, if I'm following correctly your reasoning, you're in favor of allowing the "person" that abandoned the team to return, in their own term, and with special previliges? Unfair to all other parties.
It wouldn't be the exact same deal, because the world isn't exactly the same as it was, but yes, I'd fully expect the UK to retain certain voting rights, to keep the pound, etc.
Treating the UK poorly would send a message to Eurosceptics that leaving is the point of no return. It would also mean there is one fewer nation to calm any sceptical nations to the power of a combined bloc.
"The UK had special entering rights; we want them as well."
Probably all other nations wanting to join.
And a huge drawback of relations of trust between already in place members.
No. The EU bent the knee to Tatcher in order to grow in relevance and stability internationally. A rejoining UK needs to recognize it is joining an established and relevant bloc, not an upstart project.
Then it doesn't rejoin. It's pretty simple, really.
It also means that the UK stays as an anti-bloc voice, and it's successes and failures define the EU.
It's a really simple concept, and one that is widely shared by the likes of Ian Hislop and Oli Dugmore. If the EU are inflexible, it doesn't particularly help with euroscepticism in the UK and the EU.
Maybe the UK, after dredging the bottom of the barrel, perhaps in another 25 or 30 years, realizes the gravity of its mistakes and realizes the exit from the EU was a mistake for itself, by itself, and approaches the EU to rejoin, like any other member state.