A more positive trajectory for UK-EU relations?

London: Parliamentary relations form a key part of the trade agreement between the UK and the EU. The agreement establishes a new forum for parliamentarians from the UK and EU to meet twice yearly to discuss progress made on the agreement and the state of the relationship. It is known as the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA).

The PPA has important powers for making recommendations about UK-EU agreements to the Partnership Council, where the European Commission and UK Government oversee the relationship.

Senedd representatives raised a number of important issues at the PPA’s third meeting in July 2023. Issues such as UK participation in Horizon, trade barriers, youth and cultural mobility and the implementation of the Windsor Framework.

Speaking at the meeting, European Commission Vice-President Šefčovič remarked that the Windsor Framework has set UK-EU relations on “a more positive trajectory”. UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, welcomed the mutual trust, confidence and understanding grown between both parties.

The PPA agreed a joint recommendation on the EU-UK common effort to support Ukraine and effective cooperation on sanctions.

It’s been a busy few months for work on UK-EU relations in the Senedd and this looks set to continue into 2024.

The Senedd was represented at the meeting by the Chair of the Senedd Legislation, Justice and Constitution (LJC) Committee, Huw Irranca-Davies MS and Luke Fletcher MS, from the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee. Read more on the key outcomes and discussions below.