Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, in a written answer on 20 July 2026, declined to engage with public debates on the possible reintegration of the United Kingdom into the European Union, stating that the Commission does not comment on domestic debates in third countries. The answer, addressed to MEP Loucas Fourlas (PPE), reaffirmed that any decision to apply for EU membership rests entirely with the UK. Šefčovič then outlined the standard accession procedure under Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, which requires an application to the Council, notification to national parliaments and the European Parliament, a unanimous Council decision after obtaining the European Parliament's consent, and ratification of an accession treaty by all member states.
The response contained no new policy proposals or signals of institutional readiness, instead reiterating existing treaty provisions. The answer effectively closes the door on any Commission-led initiative for UK reintegration, leaving the matter solely in the hands of the UK government and the member states. For stakeholders, the answer provides clarity but no momentum: UK citizens and pro-EU groups receive no encouragement, while member states retain full control over any future accession process. The Commission's neutral stance avoids reopening a politically sensitive file, but also offers no roadmap for rapprochement.