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
View on parliament.uk
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
View on parliament.uk
Charles Grant · Centre for European Reform Professor Richard Whitman · University of Kent Sophia Gaston · Kings College London
29 Apr 2025
View on parliament.uk
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
3 results
Clear
48 Conclusion Rejected
3rd Report – From a Common Underst…
It is disappointing that the EU has recently and unilaterally introduced a significant new element...
It is disappointing that the EU has recently and unilaterally introduced a significant new element into the “reset” negotiations by asking the UK to make a financial contribution to economic development of lower-income EU countries. Such a demand was not … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly states it will not make a financial contribution to the EU budget, clarifying its firm stance against the EU's demand for financial contributions to lower-income EU countries.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
View details
50 Recommendation Rejected
3rd Report – From a Common Underst…
We ask the Government to state clearly whether it is prepared to agree to make...
We ask the Government to state clearly whether it is prepared to agree to make a financial contribution to the economic development of lower- income EU countries that does not require payments into the general EU budget (for example in … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly states it will not make a financial contribution to the EU budget, but notes any potential financial contributions in future agreements would be contingent on clear benefits and subject to robust parliamentary scrutiny.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
View details
61 Recommendation Rejected
3rd Report – From a Common Underst…
We request the Government to publish, as promised, the headline findings of the Economic Diplomacy...
We request the Government to publish, as promised, the headline findings of the Economic Diplomacy Review conducted for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2024, and to clarify in its Response to this Report what EU-related recommendations Sir Martin … Read more
Government Response
The Government shared executive summaries with the Committee previously and claims it would not be appropriate to provide additional detail on individual review recommendations made in a personal capacity.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
View details
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