The British government has opened a debate on pursuing unhindered trade relations with the EU, as is the case with Switzerland, but without the free movement of citizens
London: Thanasis Gavos
Top British government officials are planning to put the country on the path to a relationship with the EU modeled after Switzerland’s relationship with the union, the Sunday Times reported.
This information provoked strong reactions from Conservative party officials who more fervently supported Brexit and who warned that any submission to EU regulations for the sake of a closer trade relationship would be unacceptable.
The report says that a debate has opened at the heart of the British government to pursue unhindered trade relations with the EU, as is the case with Switzerland, but without the free movement of citizens.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, who is said to be pushing the plan, has commented recently that unfettered access to trade is good for growth.
The Swiss model also provides for contributions to the Community budget and a degree of supervision of the relationship by the European Court of Justice.
It is essentially a relationship model very close to the one proposed during the Brexit negotiations in 2018 by the then Prime Minister Theresa May and which was rejected by the Brexiteers wing of her party.
The paper’s sources explain that a closer trade relationship without free movement may now be acceptable to Europeans in recognition of Britain’s heavy military support for Ukraine.
But former chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost called a shift to the Swiss model “unacceptable”.
On the other hand, ahead of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference today, the body’s President Tony Dunker said the government must allow immigration to rise to fill job vacancies until Britons are found to do these jobs,
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
