# UK could rejoin EU in months with 'Switzerland plus' deal

> A German MEP outlines a fast-track route for Britain to return to the EU as the prime minister pursues closer ties with the bloc.
- Title: UK could rejoin EU in months with 'Switzerland plus' deal
- Summary: A German MEP outlines a fast-track route for Britain to return to the EU as the prime minister pursues closer ties with the bloc. German MEP Bernard Lange…
- Keywords: brexit, andy burnham, bernard lange, switzerland, eu membership, politics, news, rejoin, months, 'Switzerland, plus', deal
- Source: The Independent — https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-brexit-rejoin-eu-switzerland-bernard-lange-b3067997.html
- Published: 2026-10-16T15:21:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: uk, eu, brexit, andy burnham, bernard lange, switzerland, eu membership, politics, news
## MEP outlines fast-track route
German MEP Bernard Lange, involved in initial Brexit negotiations, says the UK could rejoin the EU within months using a Switzerland-style agreement.
## Switzerland's model explained
Switzerland is not an EU member but has single market access. It agreed to free movement of people and pays three hundred seventy-five million euros, three hundred seventeen million pounds, annually to EU economic and…
## Lange proposes 'Switzerland plus'
Lange warns the Swiss model is passive and proposes Switzerland plus, which would give the UK market access with some political engagement but not full membership.

> So we have the model of Switzerland … Switzerland plus, I would say, as that has some kinds of engagement but not the full membership.
## Prime minister pushes closer ties
The prime minister announced at Labour's annual conference last month he would explore options bringing Britain closer to the EU, potentially including re-entry in Labour's next election manifesto.
## EU leaders welcome approach
France's president Emmanuel Macron and Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the announcement. The prime minister plans a UK-EU summit in Brussels next month to push for a Brexit reset.
## Public support at record high
Support for rejoining the EU is now at its highest level since the Brexit vote, at sixty-one percent, according to polling guru professor Sir John Curtice.
## Key takeaway

German MEP Bernard Lange says the UK could rejoin the EU within months by adopting a Switzerland-style agreement, as the prime minister seeks closer European relations.