on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (2024/2108(INI)) Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on International Trade
Rapporteur: Thijs Reuten, Nina Carberry
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT – SUMMARY OF FACTS AND FINDINGS
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) establishes a new framework for the postBrexit relationship between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK). It was signed on 30 December 2020 and entered into force on 1 January 2021. The TCA provides the basis for comprehensive relations between the parties, which covers a wide variety of areas including trade, energy, judicial cooperation in criminal matters and law enforcement, fisheries, transport and social security coordination. Furthermore, the TCA ensures a level playing field for fair competition and sustainable development, including dispute settlement and governance mechanisms, as well as respect for fundamental rights. The TCA between the UK and the EU is unique amongst other Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between the EU and third countries as this agreement deals with trade and cooperation with a former EU Member State. In this way, this TCA replaced trade arrangements and cooperation which had been in place whilst the UK was still a Member State and benefitted from the EU Customs Union and the single market1 . EU-UK relations Despite Brexit, the UK and the EU remain allies and neighbours with a long shared history, continuing to uphold common interests and values on the global stage. Engagement between the UK and EU has improved since the political agreement on the Windsor Framework in February 2023 and more recently with the UK Prime Minister’s pledge to renew the UK’s relationship with the EU in July 2024.
The new UK Government has signalled an interest in exploring new possible areas of collaboration with the EU based on three pillars: foreign policy, defence, and security cooperation; safety of citizens; growth and trade. The red lines set by the UK Government continue to be: no single market membership, no customs union and no freedom of movement. On 2 October 2024, the UK Prime Minister Starmer and the European Commission President von der Leyen’s first meeting resulted in a commitment to hold regular EU-UK Summits, with the first scheduled for 19 May 2025. Furthermore, the leaders reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and agreed to strengthen EU-UK cooperation on global challenges such as economic headwinds, geopolitical competition, irregular migration, climate change, and energy prices. At the General Affairs Council meeting of 17 December 2024, Ministers exchanged views on the EU-UK relations.
They recalled the necessity of the full and faithful implementation of existing agreements and called for close cooperation with the UK in the field of foreign and security policy. Other priority areas considered were youth exchanges, fisheries and energy. On 18 March 2025 the General Affairs Council held another debate on the EU-UK relations in view of the EU-UK Summit of 19 May 2025. Ministers stressed the importance of working more closely with the UK in the field of security and defence. On 2 April 2025, the European Parliament, in its resolutions on CFSP and CSDP, welcomed the renewed impetus from the new UK Government to reflect with the EU on possibilities for closer and more permanent foreign policy and security cooperation. It also highlighted the scope of the issues of common interest in fields such as defence, climate and energy, border management, the fight against terrorism, organised crime and the promotion of peace and stability. The link between the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement Most of the challenges over the implementation of both agreements have been linked to the UK’s refusal to uphold its legal obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement. However, in the Windsor Political Declaration of 27 February 2023, both the European Commission and the UK Government expressed their intention to fully exploit the potential of the TCA in the future. The Windsor Framework aims to address the implementation challenges associated with the type of Brexit chosen by the UK, that the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland tried to resolve in order to maintain the stability and peace brought about through the Good Friday Agreement, with an open and seamless border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The broad support for the Framework, as demonstrated by the vote of 10 December 2024 in the Northern Ireland Assembly, has increased expectations of a positive spillover into other areas of cooperation between the EU and the UK. Institutional structure and role of the European Parliament The institutional arrangements provided for in the TCA are fully operational since 2022. All joint bodies are up and running, holding regular meetings. The constructive involvement of civil society is a welcome development. Concerning bilateral relations between the European Parliament and the Parliament of the UK, the establishment of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) has been a successful undertaking in line with the TCA, which promotes cooperation on common challenges. Since its establishment in 2022, it has met five times, most recently on 17-18 March 2025 in Brussels, marked by a spirit of cooperation and renewed enthusiasm for the partnership. Concerning the involvement of UK devolved nations in the PPA, two Members of each of the devolved Assemblies are invited to participate as Observers by the UK Parliament. The European Parliament invites the President of the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee.
continues tomorrow…..
