United Kingdom

This page is also available in:

On 24 December 2020, the EU and the UK successfully concluded a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), after a long and complex negotiation. As of 1st January 2021, this agreement applied on a provisional basis until the Council and EP completed the ratification process. In the same vein as other recent Free Trade Agreements, the agreement entails specific provisions on a civil society dialogue. The EESC, key actor of this civil society dialogue, thus decided on the institutional set-up to foster the relationship with the UK and its civil society (business, trade unions and other organisations), as well as a body to monitor the TCA.

This new set-up, adjusted in light of not only the deal concluded and the new EU-UK relationship but also of the recent institutional developments in the EC, includes:

  • the EU-UK Follow-up Committee, the political successor to the Follow-up Group on Brexit and an EESC Committee where we can set our own agenda and priorities, in order to meet the needs of the new reality;
  • the EU Domestic Advisory Group under the EU-UK TCA, the civil society institutional pillar of the EU‑UK trade relationship.

Now that the future relations have been governed between the two partners through such an important and comprehensive partnership agreement, the EESC is committed to play its role to optimize the potential of this agreement, particularly in relation to the UK civil society. The EESC is determined to maintain close contacts with the UK civil society after Brexit, encourage dialogue and exchange and bring the civil society organisations into the social decision-making process, thus ensuring that the strong economic, social and political ties developed over half a century of UK membership of the EU are protected.

Displaying 11 - 20 of 24

  • Third meeting of the EU DAG and the UK DAG under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    The Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs), set up under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) to advise on the implementation of the agreement, held their third meeting on 19 September 2024, in Brussels.

  • Twelfth EU DAG meeting under the TCA

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    The EU DAG set up under the EU-UK TCA met ahead of the DAG-to-DAG meeting and the Civil Society Forum in preparation for these joint events. Exchanges focused on finalising the joint statement exercise and some anticipation on the discussions and opportunities that CSF would bring.

  • Eleventh EU DAG meeting under the TCA

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    The 11th meeting of the EU DAG, which took place right after European elections and ahead of UK general election, was dedicated to members’ presentations on pressing ongoing issues, including CBAM, concerns around labour rights LPF and non-regression, the sand eel dispute and the transport of live animals and common veterinary.

     

  • Tenth EU DAG meeting under the TCA

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    Luísa Santos, the new Chair, welcomed the EU DAG to its 10th meeting, putting forward some actions and proposals to give more visibility to future meetings and improve cooperation with UK DAG. In the light of this approach, EU DAG members discussed the impact of recent developments in EU-UK relations as well as the priorities for the TCA review. 

     

  • Ninth EU DAG meeting under the TCA

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    The 9th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the EU-UK TCA, the last one chaired by Tanja Buzek (now vice-chair), was mostly dedicated to a debriefing on the DAG-to-DAG meeting and the 2nd Civil Society Forum (CSF) held in London on 6 and 7 November 2023. 

     

  • Sixth EU DAG meeting under the TCA

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    The 6th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the EU-UK TCA featured the participation of the UK DAG Chair, Mr. Sean McGuire, to discuss the recent Windsor Framework on Northern Ireland, the situation of both DAGs and future joint steps. A DG TRADE representative presented and discussed with members the technical aspects of Level Playing Field provisions.

  • Mission to the UK - March 2023

    In the context of the reinforced follow-up of EESC Information Report
    -

    Location

    Edinburgh, Cardiff and London
    United Kingdom

    Following the adoption of the EESC Information Report on the Implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, the Committee is now promoting and giving it a reinforced follow-up using various communication channels, considering the relevance and the perfect timing of the subjects covered in the report.

     

  • Fifth EU DAG meeting under the TCA

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    The 5th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the EU-UK TCA was dedicated to the assessment of the first year of DAG work -including the recent EU-UK Civil Society Forum, to an update on the Trade Specialised Committees and to a structured discussion of selected issues and recommendations with a DG TRADE representative.

  • REX December Section meeting on EU-UK relations

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    The upcoming meeting of the Section for External Relations, which will take place on 20 December 2022, will be dedicated to EU-UK relations. The EU-UK Follow-up Committee was set up in March 2021 primarily to maintain and strengthen relations between UK and EU civil society organisations, and to monitor implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.

     

  • Fourth EU DAG meeting under the TCA

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    At this 4th meeting of the EU DAG set up under the TCA, the discussion focused on practical aspects as well as the preparations for the 1st DAG-to-DAG meeting (joint meeting of the EU and UK DAGs) and the 1st Civil Society Forum, that took place on October 3rd and 4th respectively. 

Displaying 11 - 20 of 24