Brussels, 5 May 2025
The EU needs to further strengthen cooperation with the UK in light of unprecedented Russian threats, hybrid warfare, broader geopolitical shifts and growing global trade uncertainties.
In view of the upcoming first UK-EU Summit taking place on 19 May 2025, the following MEPs issued a statement: Co-Chairs of the European Parliament’s United Kingdom Contact Group (UKCG) – Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister (EPP, Germany), Chair of the Committee on International Trade, Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany) and Chair of the Delegation for relations with the UK, Sandro Gozi (Renew Europe, France), the Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Standing Rapporteur on relations with the UK, Thijs Reuten (S&D, the Netherlands), and the Committee on International Trade’s Standing Rapporteur on relations with the UK, Nina Carberry (EPP, Ireland):
“The EU and the UK are close, like-minded partners and allies, sharing common values and facing a serious volatile global security situation as well as divisions in the global economic order with unilateral and unjustified trade measures. Our security, welfare and prosperity are inextricably linked. Our relationship is based on the full respect and the faithful and timely implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
In light of the new geopolitical realities, it is in our mutual interest to strengthen our cooperation in a structured manner, in particular on foreign, security, defence and trade matters. We commend the UK’s vital contribution to shaping a strong and unified European response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The UK’s active engagement has been significant, and we encourage both the EU and its member states to build on this positive momentum to strengthen our collective response.
The EU and the UK should rise to the occasion and ensure an agreement on a defence and security partnership, one that fosters deeper cooperation on intelligence sharing, sanctions coordination, and information exchange on foreign information manipulation and interference. They should lay the groundwork for appropriate UK involvement in wider European efforts to strengthen resilience — through joint work on strategic projects, replenishing key capacities, and reducing critical dependencies across sectors vital to Europe’s security and stability. In parallel, both sides should also step up cooperation on combatting cross-border crime, including migrant smuggling, which poses shared challenges to public safety. Such an agreement would serve as a cornerstone for enhancing the security and resilience of our continent.
To the benefit of both parties, the EU and the UK should also enhance cooperation as regards people-to-people contacts via a youth opportunity scheme, governance of AI, climate and energy policies, for instance by linking their respective emission trading schemes and deepening renewable energy co-operation in the North Sea.
We also see substantial strategic potential in pursuing a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, deepening regulatory and customs cooperation, and reducing trade barriers, particularly for SMEs, while ensuring a balanced and equitable arrangement on fisheries.
By working closely together, the EU and the UK can play a leading role in securing a more peaceful and prosperous future for Europe and beyond. The first UK-EU Summit offers a great opportunity to translate ideas into action. Together, we are greater than the sum of our parts. The current geopolitical moment requires all of us to prioritise the resolution of those issues affecting the foundation of our democracies, prosperity and welfare. This spirit should also facilitate the resolution of other issues in the future.”
David McAllister (EPP, Germany), Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the UKCG, said:
“The absence of formalised EU-UK security cooperation is increasingly untenable as we face threats to our freedom, our democracy and the rules-based international order. Our close cooperation in support of Ukraine as well as the UK’s re-entry into the PESCO military mobility project highlights the potential of deeper collaboration. With transatlantic tensions growing, strengthening Europe’s security capabilities — while maintaining a strong NATO alliance — will be vital. The UK, as a key European security actor, must be an integral part of this effort. The upcoming summit provides the ideal setting to make meaningful progress on this issue.”
Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), Chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee and Co-Chair of the UKCG, said:
“It is about time to put some concrete lyrics to the melody of reset we have been happy to hear since the new UK government has been in place. So let us use the summit to establish a clear road map for areas like defence, energy and youth mobility in which we could – on the basis of the TCA – further strengthen our cooperation. Furthermore, let us not forget to use the potential of the TCA to its full extent. There is also still room for improvement to ease the issues in our trade relations. Although the UK is no longer part of the EU, we will always maintain a special relationship. The summit should be the starting point for a new era.”
Sandro Gozi (Renew Europe, France), Chairman of the European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly and Co-Chair of the UKCG, said:
“Ahead of the UK-EU Summit, we welcome a strategic defence partnership as a key step in deepening security ties between long-standing allies. While security remains essential, we also highlight the need to advance cooperation on trade, youth opportunities, and climate and energy policy. These areas offer real benefits for our communities and economies. In doing so, we recall that the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement remain the cornerstones of the EU-UK relationship and reaffirm the need for their full and timely implementation. As we strengthen our cooperation, active parliamentary engagement will be vital to keeping these efforts grounded in the concerns and aspirations of citizens.”
Thijs Reuten (S&D, the Netherlands), Standing Rapporteur on UK relations in the Foreign Affairs Committee, said:
“We must face geopolitical challenges with allies who stand close to us. The UK is one such ally — playing a pivotal role in Europe’s united support for Ukraine. As the EU advances its defence ambitions, this momentum should lead to a lasting EU-UK defence and security partnership, with the UK involved in strengthening Europe’s resilience and deterrence. The Summit is the perfect moment to launch this partnership.”
Nina Carberry (EPP, Ireland), Standing Rapporteur on UK relations in the International Trade Committee, said:
“While Brexit changed the dynamics, the EU remains the UK’s largest trading partner. The TCA is the most ambitious free trade agreement the EU has concluded with any third country, but there is scope to deepen strategic cooperation, with agreements on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, emissions trading links, youth mobility, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications all on the table. The mood music is positive. I can only hope the summit delivers concrete, actionable outcomes.”
Renew Europe: EU–UK Summit on 19 May must mark a turning point
Brussels, 5 May 2925
Ahead of the upcoming EU–UK Summit on 19 May, Renew Europe has called for the meeting to serve as a pivotal moment in relaunching and deepening strategic ties between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
In a debate on the Summit in the European Parliament, MEP Sandro Gozi (Mouvement Démocrate/France), Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU–UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (EU–UK PPA), underlined that it is often in times of unexpected global developments — and through bold new initiatives — that real political momentum is forged. Mr Gozi said:
“The geopolitical landscape is shifting rapidly, with events in Kyiv, Washington, and Gaza already reshaping the world order — and more change is coming. This is the time to establish a stronger strategic partnership between Europe and the United Kingdom, rooted in mutual trust and shared democratic values.”
Renew Europe believes an enhanced relationship must be based on a firm foundation: full respect for existing agreements and the pursuit of new opportunities for cooperation, especially in fields such as youth engagement and dialogue on artificial intelligence.
“Trust also means delivering concrete solutions on unresolved issues such as fisheries and energy. This is the spirit of the recommendation adopted by the EU–UK Parliamentary Assembly in March, which must be fully taken into account at the Summit,” Mr Gozi added.
Looking ahead, Mr Gozi called for a renewed vision of European security and cooperation, and for joint EU–UK leadership on the global stage in building a new alliance of democracies.
“This is a moment to rethink our shared future. By working hand-in-hand, the EU and UK can be at the forefront of a new global democratic partnership that responds to today’s challenges and tomorrow’s responsibilities.”
Source – Renew Europe (by e-mail)
Remarks by Commissioner Šefčovič at the European Parliament Plenary session on the preparation of the EU-UK Summit
Strasbourg, 5 May 2025
“Check against delivery”
Opening remarks
Madam President, Honourable Members.
I am happy to participate in today’s plenary debate on the preparations for the EU-UK Summit.
As you will be aware, we have been working intensively with our UK partners to prepare the Summit on 19 May.
This will be the first such Summit at Leaders level since the UK left the EU, and marks an important milestone in our post-Brexit relationship.
President von der Leyen has met with UK Prime Minister Starmer on several occasions over the last few months, including most recently in London on 24 April.
They have agreed that the Summit offers an opportunity to strengthen EU-UK cooperation across a number of areas. It is clear that both sides want to deliver a positive Summit.
Exploratory discussions with the United Kingdom on a broad range of issues have taken place over the past weeks.
This is part of an ongoing process which will further take shape at the Summit, and beyond.
The EU and the UK are like-minded partners. In recent times we have worked closely together on shared challenges, notably in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Given that we live in an increasingly uncertain and complex geopolitical environment, it is all the more important that we continue to cooperate in this manner.
For our part, we see three broad areas where there is scope to further develop the EU-UK relationship:
- First, security and resilience. This includes deeper and more structured cooperation between the EU and the UK as close partners and like-minded allies in the face of unprecedented geopolitical challenges in our neighbourhood. This means Defence and Security will likely be a focus of the Summit;
- Second, people-to-people contacts, which includes rebuilding bridges for our young people. This reflects our long-standing policy of putting citizens at the heart of EU-UK relations.
- Third, the protection of our planet and its resources. We aim to consolidate and advance cooperation on Sanitary and Phytosanitary matters, sustainable fisheries, climate, and energy.
We are working with our United Kingdom partners in pursuit of a balanced package that delivers tangible benefits to citizens across the EU and the United Kingdom.
Madam President, Honourable Members.
While we are committed to strengthening our relations with the United Kingdom, we continue to insist on the full, timely and faithful implementation of our existing agreements: the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
These agreements are the cornerstone of our bilateral relations and form a solid foundation for our cooperation.
As regards the Withdrawal Agreement, last week I co-chaired a meeting of the Joint Committee in London with my UK counterpart, Nick Thomas-Symonds. This was an important step on the road to the Summit.
Together, we expressed a clear commitment to the full, timely and faithful implementation of the Agreement in all its parts.
We welcomed important progress made in the areas of citizens’ rights as regards the true and extra cohort, and on the Windsor Framework as regards parcels and customs arrangements. Nevertheless, further work remains to be done, on other systemic citizens’ rights issues and on the Windsor Framework, for example on SPS.
As regards the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, it remains the most ambitious Free Trade Agreement the EU has concluded with any third country, and responds to UK Government red lines, which remain in place.
But that doesn’t mean that we cannot more fully exploit the potential the Trade and Cooperation Agreement has to offer.
And it does not mean that we cannot further develop our cooperation in the areas I mentioned previously.
On the contrary, there is much we can still do together to strengthen our relationship.
The first EU-UK Summit will be an important moment to do just that.
I am looking forward to hearing your views during this debate today.
***
Closing remarks
Madam President, Honourable members.
Thank you for your contributions to today’s debate.
And thank you for your efforts more broadly to support the strengthening of the EU-UK relationship.
It is clear that we are living in a much-changed geopolitical landscape.
It has never been more important for us to work closely together, as well as with other like-minded partners.
Let me react to a few of the points you have raised today.
On security and defence, it is clear that we can do more to strengthen our cooperation in this area.
The White Paper for the Future of European Defence makes clear that the UK is an essential European ally, and states that cooperation should be enhanced in our mutual interest.
We want to be ambitious in this area and we see it as a core part of a renewed EU-UK agenda.
In the area of people-to-people contacts, we are very clear: people will always be at the heart of our relationship.
We cannot see each other’s citizens as mere statistics.
We want the Summit to bring tangible benefits to people on both sides.
For us, ambition in this area is an indispensable part of a renewed EU-UK agenda.
Amongst the other areas mentioned, we have been clear with the UK that fisheries are a priority for us.
The current arrangements for reciprocal access to waters expire in the middle of next year. For us, it is essential to reach an early agreement that protects the rights of our fishers and provides them with certainty and predictability.
We have also always been open to an SPS agreement with the UK. This would also further facilitate the flow of SPS goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland beyond what has already been achieved with the Windsor Framework.
We have also been open to linking our Emissions Trading Systems, but the detail of this is crucial.
And we want to strengthen our energy cooperation. President von der Leyen has been clear on this. There is more the EU and the UK can do together to exploit our potential in this area.
Madam President, Honourable members.
Let me conclude by thanking you once again for this exchange today.
The support of the European Parliament has always been a central feature of our approach to developing our post-Brexit relationship with the UK.
I remain very grateful for that, and I look forward to continuing our cooperation.
Source – EU Commission