Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 73
73
Parliament’s ability to effectively scrutinise any new agreements negotiated with the EU before they enter...
Conclusion
Parliament’s ability to effectively scrutinise any new agreements negotiated with the EU before they enter into force is a key test of the Government’s commitment to democratic legitimacy and accountability. It would be a concrete demonstration that lessons have been learned from the inadequate scrutiny processes for the Northern Ireland Protocol and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which had significant flaws that could have been ‘caught’ had Parliament been given the tools and time for thorough scrutiny. Parliamentary scrutiny should not be limited to any domestic legislation that may be required to give all or parts of any new agreements with the EU legal effect in the UK. (Conclusion, Paragraph 211) 100
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government has been clear and consistent in its messaging on its ambitions for closer cooperation with the EU to improve the safety, security and economic prosperity of the UK. The manifesto on which the Government was elected is clear on its approach to resetting relations with the EU, which has been further set out by the policy commitments set out in the Common Understanding. In regards to the food and drink agreement, the EU has accepted that there will be areas where we retain our own rules. The details of these are still subject to negotiation, but we are clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards and support the use of new technologies. This agreement is built on a shared commitment to maintaining high safety and quality standards. We cannot comment further on live negotiations. We are also concerned about reports of a termination clause requiring potentially significant financial compensation to the EU if the UK were to exit the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement in the future.