Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Reflecting the Government’s approach to setting its EU negotiating objectives, we found there is little...
Conclusion
Reflecting the Government’s approach to setting its EU negotiating objectives, we found there is little in the Common Understanding by way of a connecting thread between its different elements. Some of the Government’s known objectives for the “reset”, as well as numerous proposals made by stakeholders for improvements to the relationship, are missing. Conversely, some elements that are included in the Common Understanding, such as electricity trading and steel tariffs, were not articulated as UK priorities 89 before the summit at all. There is no sense of urgency within the Common Understanding to establish better ways of working together on other strategic challenges, notably economic security risks and coordination of the UK and EU’s respective policy response to them (such as the EU Industrial Accelerator Act). The overall impression is that the Government failed to present and secure a coherent roadmap for the future of the UK-EU relationship. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64)
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We agree that faithful implementation of the existing agreements with the EU is key to the stability of the overall UK-EU relationship, as well as to the prospects of any substantive improvements to it. Regrettably, Brexit itself and the subsequent Windsor Framework arrangements for Northern Ireland have repeatedly been a source of friction. We understand the need for the Government to implement the Windsor Framework in good faith, while also working closely with the Executive, Assembly and stakeholders in Northern Ireland to mitigate negative impacts on trade between there and the rest of the UK. We welcome the Government’s clear intent to address some of those impacts through overall improvements to the UK-EU relationship as part of the “reset”.