"Current EU diplomats say that, while many European capitals are in principle enthusiastic for a British return to bolster EU defences and financial markets, the Brussels bureaucracy understands how attritional, complex and politically contentious any negotiation would be.
The UK might not get back the veto powers it once enjoyed as the bloc introduces safeguards on potential new joiners, such as Ukraine and Serbia, to ensure they cannot frustrate the workings of the EU. Significant budget contributions, free movement of people and a commitment to joining the euro, at least on paper, would also be required, they add.
EU ministers, meeting in Brussels last month to discuss the UK, emphasised that Britain would need to accept that the “four freedoms” of the EU single market — the free movement of people, goods, services and capital — could not be “cherry-picked”.
FT.com