UK will get no special treatment from EU, European ministers say

European ministers said the UK will receive no special treatment in its future economic relationship with the EU. They indicated deeper cooperation is possible, but only within fundamental principles such as avoiding cherrypicking of EU policies. The EU reaffirmed the established legal framework and emphasized the indivisibility of the four freedoms: goods, services, capital, and people. Ministers showed no appetite for a proposal limited to free movement of goods. EU officials also stressed balance between rights and obligations, autonomy of EU decision-making, and continued unity in deepening ties. The EU commissioner for UK relations concluded that EU ambitions remain strong while UK red lines increasingly constrain progress. France signaled openness to UK re-entry to the single market and customs union, and EU officials noted that customs union or alignment remains available.

"European ministers said the UK will get no special treatment in its future economic relationship with the EU, in a further blow to hopes of negotiating a single market for goods. The EU’s ministers for Europe, who met on Tuesday, said they wanted deeper cooperation with the UK, but this had to be in line with fundamental principles, including no cherrypicking of EU policies, according to three diplomatic sources, who spoke about the private discussions."

"Member states reaffirmed the established legal framework underpinning the relationship and negotiations, with continued emphasis on the indivisibility of the four freedoms, balance of right and obligations, autonomy of EU decision making and the avoidance of cherrypicking, an EU diplomat said. The diplomat said the EU commissioner in charge of UK relations, Maros Sefcovic, had concluded that the EU remains united in its ambition to deepen ties, while the UK’s red lines are increasingly constraining progress."

"A single market for goods, long hinted by the prime minister and chancellor Rachel Reeves, would be a radical departure for the EU. Since the Brexit vote nearly a decade ago EU leaders have said that the single market encompasses four freedoms: free movement of goods, services, capital and people. Europe ministers had no appetite for the British proposal of free movement of goods only, although the idea was only briefly mentioned at Tuesday’s meeting, EU sources said."

"France has said it would be willing to welcome the UK back to the European single market and customs union, reflecting the changed geopolitical landscape since Brexit. EU officials have also stressed that a customs union or alignment with the single market remains available to the UK."

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