While the UK was an EU member state, the regulators exerted international influence primarily through the EU, even where they took part in international fora as individual organisations.56 The regulators now represent the UK’s interests outside of the EU. The regulators recognise the importance of strengthening their international links to share knowledge, establish best practice and improve standards, and develop cooperation arrangements.57 The regulators told us that for this reason they are beginning to develop strategies for increasing their international presence outside of the EU.58 FSA has recently established a new International and UK Affairs Directorate to lead on its international strategy.59 CMA told us that now it is taking on larger and more complex global competition cases that had previously been reserved to the European Commission, there is “more international attention” paid to its decisions. Similarly, HSE emphasised the importance of sharing knowledge and scientific evidence with counterparts in other developed economies to ensure the UK “remain[s] a globally leading and safe place to do business”.