Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

The UK-EU reset: rebuilding a strategic partnership in uncertain times

Status: Open Opened: 7 Mar 2025 39 recommendations 46 conclusions 1 report

The Foreign Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into the Government’s proposed reset of the UK-EU relationship. The inquiry will consider all facets of the reset, across the three “pillars” articulated by the Government (security, safety and prosperity) with a particular focus on how the reset process can be engaged to ensure the UK-EU partnership … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report – From a Common Understanding to Common Ground: … HC 857 4 Mar 2026 85 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
33 Recommendation 3rd Report – From a Common Understandin… Accepted in Part

Business mobility is crucial to the UK services industry, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications...

Business mobility is crucial to the UK services industry, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications is one area where the Trade and Cooperation Agreement offers a clear mechanism for progress. We hope the Government and EU will use the new Dialogue to establish no later than the next UK-EU summit … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts in part, stating it is actively engaging with the EU to enhance business mobility and remove trade barriers for professionals, but does not commit to establishing a shared roadmap for mutual recognition of professional qualifications by the next UK-EU summit for specific …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
38 Recommendation 3rd Report – From a Common Understandin… Accepted in Part

We ask the Government to provide an update on the progress made in implementing the...

We ask the Government to provide an update on the progress made in implementing the areas of cooperation agreed with the EU at the Lancaster House summit relating to irregular migration and law enforcement since May 2025. We ask it to clarify in particular what the focus has been of … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government provides an update on strengthened cooperation with the EU, citing enhanced measures for tackling irregular migration and continued effective use of law enforcement mechanisms. It commits to ongoing dialogue but does not specifically clarify the focus of planned extradition discussions as requested.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
49 Conclusion 3rd Report – From a Common Understandin… Accepted in Part

As for the UK Government position, we note that Ministers have not explicitly ruled out...

As for the UK Government position, we note that Ministers have not explicitly ruled out making a financial contribution to the economic development of the EU’s lower-income Member States in a manner similar to Norway and Switzerland. Irrespective of the arguments around the principle of such a contribution’ to the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government clarifies that it will not make a financial contribution to the EU budget, directly responding to the committee's observation. It states that any potential future financial contributions would require clear benefits and be subject to robust parliamentary scrutiny, addressing the call for transparency.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
56 Recommendation 3rd Report – From a Common Understandin… Accepted in Part

We ask the Government to set out which of the possible areas of closer cooperation...

We ask the Government to set out which of the possible areas of closer cooperation referenced in the Security and Defence Partnership it intends to pursue further, and to provide an update on its work to “explore” UK re-entry into the EU’s Galileo satellite navigation project. (Recommendation, Paragraph 152) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government is pursuing closer cooperation with the EU under the Security and Defence Partnership in areas which deliver practical results against shared threats, and they are participating in EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and Copernicus. However, they have no plans to rejoin …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
8 Sep 2025 Hermione Gough · Cabinet Office, Nick Heath · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP · Cabinet Office, Stephen Doughty MP · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office View ↗
6 May 2025 Charles Grant · Centre for European Reform, Professor Richard Whitman · University of Kent, Sophia Gaston · Kings College London View ↗
29 Apr 2025 Naomi Smith · Best for Britain, Professor Anand Menon · UK in a Changing Europe, Professor David Paton · Nottingham University Business School View ↗

Who gave evidence

10 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Charles Grant · Director Centre for European Reform 1
Hermione Gough · Director, EU Relations Cabinet Office 1
Naomi Smith · Chief Executive Officer Best for Britain 1
Nick Heath · Deputy Director, EU Department Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Professor Anand Menon · Director UK in a Changing Europe 1
Professor David Paton · Professor of Industrial Economics Nottingham University Business School 1
Professor Richard Whitman · Professor of Politics and International Relations University of Kent 1
Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP · Minister for Constitution and European Relations Cabinet Office 1
Sophia Gaston · Visiting fellow Kings College London 1
Stephen Doughty MP · Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas T… Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
2 Jun 2026 Correspondence from the Minister for the Cabinet Office, relating to the Govern…
21 May 2026 From cttee Letter to the Minister for the Cabinet Office, relating to the Government’s Res…
25 Jun 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for the Cabinet Office relating to the UK-EU r…
18 May 2025 From cttee Letter to the Prime Minister relating to UK-EU reset and upcoming summit, dated…
15 May 2025 Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary relating to the…