Select committee: European Affairs Committee
Recommendation 11
4th Report - The future UK-EU relationship
Published 29 Apr 2023
Paragraph 63
European Affairs Committee The future UK-EU relationship All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The current double-headed system of committees and working groups may not prove to be the most efficient or effective system for managing the UK-EU relationship in the longer-term, given its complexity and that it does not cover important policy areas in which cooperation may develop in the future. We recommend that, when the TCA is reviewed in 2025, consideration should be given to moving towards a single structure of committees covering all major areas of cooperation.
From: European Affairs Committee, 4th Report - The future UK-EU relationship, paragraph 63, 29 April 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 30 June 2023 (deadline 29 June 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government agrees with the Committee on the importance of regular UK-EU dialogue and cooperation, while declining or only noting several recommendations on institutional reform, defence, education and mobility.
- On Horizon Europe, it is in discussions and hopes they "will be successful", but says participation "must" be "fair for UK researchers, businesses and taxpayers"; it will implement its alternative, Pioneer, "if we are not able to secure association on fair and appropriate terms".
- On the Partnership Council meeting at least twice a year, it notes the TCA says 'at least once a year' and is "open to it meeting more often where business requires it".
- On education, it says it is "not exploring" adding a reciprocal element to the Turing Scheme, and "does not intend to negotiate resuming participation in any aspect of Erasmus+", citing value for money and the taxpayer.
- On linking emissions trading schemes, it "partially agrees"; "no decision on linking has been made" but it remains "open to cooperating with the EU on carbon pricing".