Select committee: European Affairs Committee
Recommendation 13
4th Report - The future UK-EU relationship
Published 29 Apr 2023
Paragraph 65
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)
We recommend that regular UK-EU summits should be held as a focus for political and diplomatic engagement, including at the level of the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the Commission and the European Council. Such summits would also facilitate engagement between Cabinet ministers and European Commissioners with equivalent responsibilities. We urge the Government to approach the EU without further delay with a proposal to host an inaugural summit in the UK before the end of 2023.
From: European Affairs Committee, 4th Report - The future UK-EU relationship, paragraph 65, 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".