The UK-EU reset: rebuilding a strategic partnership in uncertain times

Foreign Affairs Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 7 Mar 2025 Parliament page
The Foreign Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into the Government’s proposed reset of the UK-EU relationship. The inquiry will consider all facets of the reset, across the three “pillars” articulated by the Government (security, safety and prosperity) with a particular focus on how the reset process can be engaged … Read more
39 Recommendations
46 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
5 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
2 Jun
2026
Correspondence
21 May
2026
Report published
21 May
2026
Correspondence
4 Mar
2026
Report published
8 Sep
2025
Oral evidence
25 Jun
2025
Correspondence
18 May
2025
Correspondence
15 May
2025
Correspondence
6 May
2025
Oral evidence
29 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
8 Sep 2025
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Hermione Gough · Cabinet Office Nick Heath · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP · Cabinet Office Stephen Doughty MP · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
6 May 2025
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Charles Grant · Centre for European Reform Professor Richard Whitman · University of Kent Sophia Gaston · Kings College London
29 Apr 2025
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Naomi Smith · Best for Britain Professor Anand Menon · UK in a Changing Europe Professor David Paton · Nottingham University Business School
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report – From a Common Understanding to Common Ground: Build… HC 857 4 Mar 2026 85 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
33 Recommendation Accepted in Part
3rd Report – From a Common Underst…
Business mobility is crucial to the UK services industry, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications...
Business mobility is crucial to the UK services industry, and mutual recognition of professional qualifications is one area where the Trade and Cooperation Agreement offers a clear mechanism for progress. We hope the Government and EU will use the new … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts in part, stating it is actively engaging with the EU to enhance business mobility and remove trade barriers for professionals, but does not commit to establishing a shared roadmap for mutual recognition of professional qualifications by the next UK-EU summit for specific sectors.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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38 Recommendation Accepted in Part
3rd Report – From a Common Underst…
We ask the Government to provide an update on the progress made in implementing the...
We ask the Government to provide an update on the progress made in implementing the areas of cooperation agreed with the EU at the Lancaster House summit relating to irregular migration and law enforcement since May 2025. We ask it … Read more
Government Response
The government provides an update on strengthened cooperation with the EU, citing enhanced measures for tackling irregular migration and continued effective use of law enforcement mechanisms. It commits to ongoing dialogue but does not specifically clarify the focus of planned extradition discussions as requested.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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49 Conclusion Accepted in Part
3rd Report – From a Common Underst…
As for the UK Government position, we note that Ministers have not explicitly ruled out...
As for the UK Government position, we note that Ministers have not explicitly ruled out making a financial contribution to the economic development of the EU’s lower-income Member States in a manner similar to Norway and Switzerland. Irrespective of the … Read more
Government Response
The government clarifies that it will not make a financial contribution to the EU budget, directly responding to the committee's observation. It states that any potential future financial contributions would require clear benefits and be subject to robust parliamentary scrutiny, addressing the call for transparency.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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56 Recommendation Accepted in Part
3rd Report – From a Common Underst…
We ask the Government to set out which of the possible areas of closer cooperation...
We ask the Government to set out which of the possible areas of closer cooperation referenced in the Security and Defence Partnership it intends to pursue further, and to provide an update on its work to “explore” UK re-entry into … Read more
Government Response
The government is pursuing closer cooperation with the EU under the Security and Defence Partnership in areas which deliver practical results against shared threats, and they are participating in EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and Copernicus. However, they have no plans to rejoin Galileo.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 85 of 39 classified
Accepted 18
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 50
Deferred 3
Not Addressed 7
Rejected 3
Total 39 recs + 46 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
2 Jun 2026 Correspondence from the Minister for the Cabinet Office, relating to the Government’s Response to the Committee's UK-EU reset Report, dated 21 May 2026
Parliament page
21 May 2026 From committee Letter to the Minister for the Cabinet Office, relating to the Government’s Response to the Committee's UK-EU reset Report, dated 20 May 2026
Parliament page
25 Jun 2025 Correspondence from the Minister for the Cabinet Office relating to the UK-EU reset, 15.06.25
Parliament page
18 May 2025 From committee Letter to the Prime Minister relating to UK-EU reset and upcoming summit, dated 13.05.25
Parliament page
15 May 2025 Correspondence from the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary relating to the Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), dated 08.05.2025
Parliament page