In the wake of Brexit’s profound economic and social impact, restoring the UK’s close relationship with the European Union is more urgent than ever. Building on my previous article exploring the practical option of rejoining the European Economic Area (EEA) through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and why Keir Starmer stands by Labour’s manifesto commitment not to rejoin the single market, what follows sets out a fast, effective way for the UK to regain access to it and a stepping stone towards full EU membership and economic renewal.
EFTA: the fastest route into the single market
For pro-EU campaigners and rejoiners, temporary membership of EFTA to re-enter the EEA offers the quickest and most pragmatic way to restore the UK’s access to the single market. Unlike the complex full EU accession process, which can take several years as seen with Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia, joining EFTA is a streamlined process allowing the UK to adopt EEA rules rapidly without immediately accepting all EU membership obligations.
This path potentially restores the four fundamental freedoms that Brexit severed: free movement of people, goods, services, and capital. It also reinstates everyday benefits millions once took for granted, such as free mobile roaming and tariff-free trade with the EU’s 27 member states.
For pro-EU activists, recognising that temporary EFTA membership is the simplest and most straightforward way back into the EEA is crucial to building political momentum and public support.
Why Pro-EU advocates must champion temporary EFTA membership now
Keir Starmer’s government, while committed to resetting UK-EU relations, has so far refused to break its manifesto pledge against outright rejoining the single market. Even in the light of the new relaxations on fishing and farm exports, the (overly) cautious stance prolongs Brexit’s economic damage, including trade barriers, increased costs, and reduced investment. Yet the EEA accession agreement via EFTA is a less politically fraught and more achievable interim solution that could deliver immediate economic relief.
Pro-EU campaigners must pile the pressure on the Labour government to embrace this pragmatic option. Highlighting Brexit’s continuing economic and social costs alongside growing public support for closer EU ties is essential. Businesses, senior management, trade associations such as Chambers of Commerce, and trade unions – all adversely affected by Brexit – must unite in demanding restored single market access.
Public and businesses support closer UK-EU ties
Polls commissioned by the pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain ahead of the recent major summit between UK and European leaders revealed strong British public backing for closer ties with the EU. The YouGov survey found that 69% of British voters support closer defence cooperation, 53% favour alignment on animal and plant standards (which could eliminate costly checks on food exports), and 63% back a youth mobility scheme allowing young Britons and EU citizens to travel, work, and study freely.
Moreover, a majority of respondents support deeper regulatory alignment, with 52% willing to align on all EU goods and product rules and 71% open to a common customs approach. This polling underscores the public’s readiness for a pragmatic reset of UK-EU relations, reinforcing the argument for temporary EFTA membership as a practical first step.
Since Brexit, UK businesses have faced increased regulatory burdens, customs delays, and restricted market access. Senior executives and industry bodies need to campaign actively for rejoining the EEA to safeguard jobs, boost investment, and restore competitiveness. Similarly, trade unions representing workers affected by job insecurity and curtailed mobility must join the call to hold the Labour government accountable and push for swift action.
EFTA stepping stone to full EU membership
Temporary EFTA membership is not just a stopgap – it is a strategic move that will make eventual full EU accession smoother and faster. By aligning UK laws and standards with the EU’s during this period, the UK will be well placed to negotiate full membership efficiently, avoiding drawn-out processes that have delayed other countries’ access.
The UK’s geographic proximity to the EU is a decisive advantage for trade by proximity – one that Brexit has undermined. Recent UK trade deals with distant partners such as India and the USA, negotiated without broad consultation and complicated by geographic realities, have failed to compensate for Brexit’s economic damage.
The UK’s membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), entered without public debate, further complicates rejoining the EU but underscores the urgent need for a pragmatic Europe-centred approach like temporary EFTA membership.
The renewed EU-UK Cooperation Common Understanding isn’t enough
On 19 May 2025, EU and UK leaders met in London for the first EU-UK summit since the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, adopting three outcome documents including the “A Renewed Agenda for European Union – United Kingdom Cooperation Common Understanding”. While the UK government still maintains it will not seek to rejoin the Single Market or Customs Union in the short term, the renewed agenda sets out a framework for closer cooperation in security, trade facilitation, and regulatory dialogue.
However, having reviewed the document, it is clear that whatever the final terms this approach will fall far short of restoring the full range of benefits the UK previously enjoyed as an EU member—such as ‘Roam Like at Home’ mobile usage, freedom of movement, and seamless access to the Single Market.
To regain these and many other advantages, a more ambitious strategy is needed. Temporary EFTA membership would offer a practical pathway for the UK to rejoin the EEA, providing real economic benefits and restoring freedoms lost since Brexit—something the current agenda simply cannot deliver.
Compare: rejoining the EEA via EFTA vs full EU membership
To fully appreciate why temporary EFTA membership would be the most pragmatic and expedient route back to the single market, it is important to understand how it compares to full EU membership in key areas.
| Aspect | Rejoining EEA via temporary EFTA Membership | Full EU membership (Article 49 Accession) |
|---|---|---|
| Process duration | Relatively short process; accession to EFTA can take several months, followed by EEA re-entry, enabling swift single market access. | Lengthy and complex; typically takes several years (5–10+ years) due to comprehensive negotiations, screening, and unanimous approval. |
| Legal obligations | UK adopts EEA rules related to the single market (goods, services, capital, people) without full EU treaty obligations. | Full adoption of all EU treaties, laws, regulations, and policies across all areas, including agriculture, fisheries, justice, and foreign policy. |
| Political complexity | Lower political sensitivity; no immediate EU membership means less resistance domestically and from some EU states. | Higher political complexity; requires unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states, with potential vetoes and extensive negotiations. |
| Benefits restored | Immediate restoration of single market access, including the four freedoms (movement of goods, services, capital, people), roaming, and reduced trade barriers. | Full EU rights including single market access plus voting rights in EU institutions, participation in EU decision-making, and access to EU funding programmes. |
| Sovereignty and autonomy | Retains greater UK sovereignty; UK remains outside EU institutions and decision-making bodies but must comply with EEA rules. | Greater integration; UK would participate fully in EU institutions, sharing sovereignty in exchange for influence on EU policies. |
| Currency considerations | UK can retain the British pound with no obligation to adopt the euro, as EEA membership does not require currency union. | Euro adoption is expected in the long term, though opt-outs exist (e.g. Denmark, Sweden), but political pressure to join eurozone remains. |
| Customs and trade policy | UK remains outside the EU Customs Union; customs checks remain but single market rules reduce non-tariff barriers. | Full membership includes Customs Union participation, eliminating customs checks and tariffs with EU countries. |
| Regulatory alignment | UK must align with EEA single market regulations but can opt out of some EU policies (e.g., Common Agricultural Policy). | Full alignment with all EU regulations and policies, including those beyond the single market scope. |
| Freedom of movement | Restores freedom of movement for workers, students, and residents between UK and EEA countries. | Full freedom of movement rights as per EU citizenship, including political rights within the EU framework. |
| Influence on EU lawmaking | No voting rights in EU institutions; UK has observer status but limited influence on new rules it must adopt. | Full voting rights and representation in the European Parliament, Council, and Commission, enabling direct influence on legislation. |
| Financial contributions | Financial contributions to EFTA and EEA administration, generally lower than full EU budget contributions. | Full contributions to the EU budget, including structural funds, cohesion funds, and other financial mechanisms. |
| Social and environmental policies | Must comply with EEA-relevant social and environmental standards, but can maintain some policy autonomy. | Full participation and influence in EU-wide social, environmental, and climate policies. |
| Political feasibility | More politically feasible in the short term, as it avoids contentious issues like sovereignty transfer and euro adoption. | Politically challenging due to sovereignty concerns, party manifestos, and public opinion divisions. |
| Impact on Brexit legacy | Provides a pragmatic way to mitigate Brexit’s economic damage by restoring key single market benefits quickly. | Represents a full reversal of Brexit, requiring significant political will and public support. |
| International trade relations | UK retains ability to negotiate independent trade deals outside the EU, including CPTPP membership and agreements with the USA and India. | Trade policy is governed by the EU; UK would no longer negotiate independent trade deals but benefit from EU’s collective agreements. |
Updates in UK-EU relations and travel
Keir Starmer’s deal means the UK will join the EU facial recognition system and allow UK passport holders to use the e-gates at EU borders wherever individual countries agree. A new passport system should also make it simpler to travel with pets, avoiding the need for repeated vet certificates.
The UK government will continue to uphold existing agreements such as the EU Settlement Scheme, which now automatically converts eligible pre-settled status holders to settled status, easing residency rights for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens.
Importantly, the UK and the Republic of Ireland maintain the Common Travel Area (CTA), a unique arrangement predating both countries’ EU membership. The CTA allows British and Irish citizens to move freely, live, work, and study in either jurisdiction without routine immigration controls. It also preserves reciprocal rights including access to healthcare, social benefits, and voting in certain elections.
Still, the government remains firm that it will not seek to rejoin the EU single market or customs union in the short term, emphasising that it seeks a ‘reset’ of relations rather than reversal of Brexit.
Call to action: mobilise for temporary EFTA membership and rejoin the EEA
Pro-EU and rejoin activists, organisations, businesses, trade unions, and citizens must seize this moment. The case for temporary EFTA membership as a pragmatic, swift, and effective route back to the single market is compelling. To make this a reality:
- Contact your MPs urging them to support initiating talks on temporary EFTA membership.
- Start and promote petitions on the UK Parliament website demanding the UK rejoin the single market via EFTA.
- Share this article and related information widely to raise awareness and build momentum.
Only through coordinated activism and sustained pressure can we compel the Labour government to prioritise economic recovery and restore the UK’s rightful place at the heart of Europe.
To sum up, temporary EFTA membership offers the UK the fastest, most practical way to regain single market access and restore vital EU benefits. It also lays a strong foundation for full EU accession, essential for the UK’s long-term prosperity. Given Brexit’s costly legacy and the UK’s strategic geographic position, embracing this route is not just sensible – it is imperative.
