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

3 items
4 Recommendation 3rd Report – From a Common Understandin… Deferred

We ask the Government to provide an update on its envisaged timetable for publication and...

We ask the Government to provide an update on its envisaged timetable for publication and ratification of the draft UK-EU Agreement on Gibraltar. Given its constitutional and political importance, we also request that the Government makes time in the House of Commons for a debate on the Agreement, prior to … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Government recognizes parliamentarians' interest in the Treaty and states that the Committee’s views on holding a debate will be conveyed to the relevant parties for consideration in the scheduling of parliamentary business. They anticipate ratification in early 2027.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
80 Conclusion 3rd Report – From a Common Understandin… Deferred

It is not clear to us that expecting Departmental Select Committees to fulfil this task...

It is not clear to us that expecting Departmental Select Committees to fulfil this task would be workable, and nor can they provide the House with a cross-cutting overview of how alignment with EU rules, and limitations on the UK’s regulatory autonomy, are developing across different areas of policy. We … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government intends to consider the matter further and engage with interested parties within the House of Commons, preferring broad agreement before new treaties with the EU requiring dynamic alignment are brought into force.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
81 Recommendation 3rd Report – From a Common Understandin… Deferred

We agree with the House of Lords European Affairs Committee that Parliament must “play a...

We agree with the House of Lords European Affairs Committee that Parliament must “play a full scrutiny role” when it comes to matters of alignment with the EU. Given the continued impact of the EU decisions on the UK and the much closer relationship being pursued by the Government, we … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government intends to consider the matter of establishing a dedicated new Committee on EU affairs further, engaging with other interested parties within the House of Commons, and prefers broad agreement before treaties requiring dynamic alignment are brought into force.
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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…