1st Report - Unfinished Business: Resetting the UK-EU relationship
- HC No.
- Not recorded
- Published
- 12 Nov 2025
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 27 January 2026 (deadline 23 January 2026). Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: European Affairs Committee
The UK-EU reset
Closed
Opened 15 Jan 2025
Closed 26 Feb 2026
European Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The European Affairs Committee is holding an inquiry into the reset of UK-EU relations that the Government is pursuing. The inquiry has two main themes: the substance of the reset, involving questions about what the reset is or should be; and the reset process, involving questions about how the Government pursues it with the EU and the role of interested parties in the UK. The inquiry is expected to consider topics including the Government’s overall approach and negotiating priorities, the relationship between the reset and the forthcoming review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and the relationship between the reset and UK relationships beyond the EU. The report Unfinished Business: Resetting the UK-EU relationship was published on 12 November 2025, the Government responded on 27 January 2026 and the report was debated on 26 February 2026.
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 15 January 2025.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 1st Report - Unfinished Business: Resetting the UK-EU relationship on 12 November 2025.
The government's response
Published 27 January 2026. The deadline was 23 January 2026.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the Committee's contributions and sets out the progress of the reset, while stating that talks on the UK-EU Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument did not conclude and that several negotiations remain ongoing.
- On electricity, the government says exploratory talks on UK participation in the EU internal market concluded in December, with details on implementation "to be shared in due course", and that a decision on when current arrangements will be superseded will be taken "in the first half of 2026".
- On defence, the government states that the UK and EU "have not been able to conclude these negotiations" on SAFE, saying it will only sign agreements "in the national interest", while exploring other mutual involvement in defence initiatives.
- On the Youth Experience Scheme, the government is "aiming to conclude negotiations" by the next EU-UK summit, and says any scheme will be capped and subject to a visa requirement, with exact parameters "subject to ongoing negotiation".
- On scrutiny, the government commits to being "as open and transparent with Parliament as it can be whilst protecting its negotiating position", including private briefings to the Committee.
Reports
All reportsEvidence
- 14 oral evidence sessionsLatest 1 July 2025
- 40 witnesses
Recent activity
- Government Response to the European Affairs Committee Report Unfinished Business: Resetting the UK-EU relationship27 January 2026, Report published
- 1st Report - Unfinished Business: Resetting the UK-EU relationship12 November 2025, Report published
- Committee event4 November 2025, Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 4, Palace of Westminster
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP · Cabinet Office,
Stephen Doughty MP · FCDO
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| 24 Jun 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Chris Ranford · National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO),
Elspeth Macdonald · Scottish Fisherman’s Federation,
Tavish Scott · Salmon Scotland
|
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| 17 Jun 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Professor Emily Lydgate · University of Sussex,
Tom Bradshaw · National Farmers' Union,
William Bain · British Chambers of Commerce
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| 3 Jun 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Caroline Dawson · Clifford Chance LLP,
Miles Celic OBE · TheCityUK,
Professor Sarah Hall · Cambridge University
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| 6 May 2025 |
Oral evidence session
HE Markus Leitner · Embassy of Switzerland to the United Kingdom
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| 1 Apr 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Deborah Annetts · Independent Society of Musicians (ISM),
Marco Cillario · The Law Society,
Muyiwa Oki · Royal Institute of British Architects
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| 25 Mar 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Adam Berman · Energy UK,
Matt Hinde · National Grid,
Silke Goldberg · Herbert Smith Freehills
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| 11 Mar 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Deputy Chief Constable Peter Ayling · National Police Chiefs' Council,
Joanne Jakymec · The Crown Prosecution Service,
Robert Jones CBE · National Crime Agency
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| 4 Mar 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Rear Admiral (Retd) Bruce Williams CBE · EU Military Staff,
The Lord Peach KG GBE KCB DL · Military Committee of NATO,
The Lord Sedwill GCMG · Cabinet Office,
Vice Admiral (Retd) Duncan Potts CB · EU Operation ATALANTA
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| 25 Feb 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Jason Alderwick · MBDA UK,
Oriel Petry · Airbus,
Phil Siveter · Thales
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| 11 Feb 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Aslak Berg · Centre for European Reform,
Professor David Collins · City St George’s, University of London,
Sam Lowe · Flint Global
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| 4 Feb 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Anton Spisak · Centre for European Reform,
Philip Rycroft CB · Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU),
Shanker Singham · Competere
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| 28 Jan 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Professor Catherine Barnard · UK in a Changing Europe,
Professor Graham Butler · University of Southern Denmark; and Linnaeus University, Sweden,
Sir Richard Aikens · Brick Court Chambers
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| 21 Jan 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Armida Van Rij · Chatham House,
Mujtaba Rahman · Eurasia Group,
Wolfgang Münchau · Eurointelligence
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Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Berman · Deputy Director of Policy | Energy UK | 1 |
| Anton Spisak · Associate Fellow | Centre for European Reform | 1 |
| Armida Van Rij · Senior Research Fellow & Head of Europe Programme | Chatham House | 1 |
| Aslak Berg · Research Fellow | Centre for European Reform | 1 |
| Caroline Dawson · Partner | Clifford Chance LLP | 1 |
| Chris Ranford · Chair | National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) | 1 |
| Deborah Annetts · Chief Executive | Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) | 1 |
| Deputy Chief Constable Peter Ayling · International Criminality and EU Exit Lead | National Police Chiefs' Council | 1 |
| Elspeth Macdonald · Chief Executive | Scottish Fisherman’s Federation | 1 |
| HE Markus Leitner · Ambassador | Embassy of Switzerland to the United Kingdom | 1 |
| Jason Alderwick · Director of UK Government and Political Affairs | MBDA UK | 1 |
| Joanne Jakymec · Chief Crown Prosecutor, International, London and South-East Division | The Crown Prosecution Service | 1 |
| Marco Cillario · International Policy Manager | The Law Society | 1 |
| Matt Hinde · Head of International Policy and Engagement | National Grid | 1 |
| Miles Celic OBE · Chief Executive | TheCityUK | 1 |
| Mujtaba Rahman · Managing Director, Europe | Eurasia Group | 1 |
| Muyiwa Oki · President | Royal Institute of British Architects | 1 |
| Oriel Petry · Senior Vice President | Airbus | 1 |
| Phil Siveter · UK CEO | Thales | 1 |
| Philip Rycroft CB · former Permanent Secretary | Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) | 1 |
| Professor Catherine Barnard · Senior Fellow and Deputy Director | UK in a Changing Europe | 1 |
| Professor David Collins · Professor of International Economic Law | City St George’s, University of London | 1 |
| Professor Emily Lydgate · Professor of Environmental Law | University of Sussex | 1 |
| Professor Graham Butler · Full Professor of Law | University of Southern Denmark; and Linnaeus University, Sweden | 1 |
| Professor Sarah Hall · Professor of Geography | Cambridge University | 1 |
| Rear Admiral (Retd) Bruce Williams CBE · former Deputy Director General | EU Military Staff | 1 |
| Robert Jones CBE · Director General (Operations) | National Crime Agency | 1 |
| Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP · Minister for Constitution and European Relations | Cabinet Office | 1 |
| Sam Lowe · Partner | Flint Global | 1 |
| Shanker Singham · CEO | Competere | 1 |
| Silke Goldberg · Partner | Herbert Smith Freehills | 1 |
| Sir Richard Aikens · Retired judge | Brick Court Chambers | 1 |
| Stephen Doughty MP · Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories | FCDO | 1 |
| Tavish Scott · Chief Executive | Salmon Scotland | 1 |
| The Lord Peach KG GBE KCB DL · former Chairman | Military Committee of NATO | 1 |
| The Lord Sedwill GCMG · Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, 2018–20 | Cabinet Office | 1 |
| Tom Bradshaw · President | National Farmers' Union | 1 |
| Vice Admiral (Retd) Duncan Potts CB · former Operational Commander | EU Operation ATALANTA | 1 |
| William Bain · Head of Trade | British Chambers of Commerce | 1 |
| Wolfgang Münchau · Co-founder and Director | Eurointelligence | 1 |
Correspondence
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| Published | Direction | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 7 May 2025 | From committee | 7 May 2025, Letter to the Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP re: Inquiry into the UK-EU reset |
Meetings & visits
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| Date | Type | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 4, Palace of Westminster | |
| 28 Oct 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 3, Palace of Westminster | |
| 21 Oct 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 2, Palace of Westminster | |
| 14 Oct 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 3, Palace of Westminster | |
| 2 Sep 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 2, Palace of Westminster | |
| 15 Jul 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 2, Palace of Westminster | |
| 10 Jun 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 1, Palace of Westminster | |
| 20 May 2025 | Formal meeting (private meeting) | Not recorded · Room 2, Palace of Westminster |