45
Acknowledged
Given the claimed economic impact of the sectoral agreements envisaged in the Common Understanding is...
Recommendation
Given the claimed economic impact of the sectoral agreements envisaged in the Common Understanding is larger than that of most Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), we recommend that the Government mirror the Department for Business and Trade’s commitments on transparency of FTA negotiations in current (and future) negotiations with the EU. This means it would publish, at a minimum, “Strategic Approaches” for the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, emissions trading systems linkage, electricity trading and youth mobility negotiations with the EU; conduct a Call for Evidence on each of these; as well as commit to publishing updates after each formal negotiating round with the EU. This would improve transparency of the negotiations, without providing a running commentary, and should enable key stakeholders to help inform the UK negotiating position in the current phase of the talks, and spot potential problems before the agreements are finalised. (Recommendation, Paragraph 120) 94
Government Response Summary
The government states that it takes its commitment to scrutiny very seriously and is committed to being open and transparent in its engagement with Parliament, including through formal evidence sessions, correspondence and private briefings.
Government Response
Acknowledged
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government takes its ongoing commitment to scrutiny very seriously – it is a vital part of the Government’s accountability to Parliament. We are committed to being open and transparent in our engagement with Parliament regarding implementation of the Summit outcomes and further negotiations to put into effect what the UK and EU have agreed, including through formal evidence sessions, correspondence and private briefings to this Committee. This was demonstrated ahead of the first UK-EU Summit, where the Minister for the Cabinet Office met with the Foreign Affairs Committee Chair and wrote to the Committee. Following the summit, Minister Doughty and the Minister for the Cabinet Office jointly appeared before the Committee to provide further insights and updates. The Prime Minister also made an Oral Statement to Parliament the day after the Summit, with Ministers continuing to make oral and written statements on progress in negotiations since. We will use the annual summit process to drive forward implementation of the Common Understanding, and will continue to be open and transparent in our engagement with Parliament regarding future Summits.
Source
Committee
Foreign Affairs Committee
Addressee Bodies
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.2 yrs
Report published
04 Mar 2026