Reino Unido

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Em 24 de dezembro de 2020, após negociações longas e complexas, a UE e o Reino Unido concluíram com sucesso um Acordo de Comércio e Cooperação. Tal acordo começou a ser aplicado, de forma temporária, em 1 de janeiro de 2021, até o Conselho e o Parlamento Europeu (PE) terminarem o processo de ratificação. Tal como outros acordos de comércio livre recentes, o acordo fixa disposições específicas em relação ao diálogo com a sociedade civil. O CESE, interveniente fundamental neste diálogo com a sociedade civil, definiu, assim, a estrutura institucional para fomentar a relação entre a sociedade civil do Reino Unido e da UE (empresas, sindicatos e outras organizações) e criou um órgão para acompanhar o Acordo de Comércio e Cooperação.

Esta nova estrutura, adaptada não só em função do acordo celebrado e da nova relação UE-Reino Unido, mas também da evolução institucional recente na Comissão Europeia, inclui:

  • o Comité de Acompanhamento UE-Reino Unido, o sucessor político do Grupo de Acompanhamento para o Brexit e um comité do CESE que nos permite definir as nossas próprias estratégia e prioridades, a fim de enfrentar as necessidades resultantes da nova realidade;
  • o Grupo Consultivo Interno da UE, no âmbito do Acordo de Comércio e Cooperação UE Reino Unido, o pilar institucional da sociedade civil nas relações comerciais entre a UE e o Reino Unido.

Agora que as relações futuras entre os dois parceiros foram enquadradas por um acordo de parceria tão abrangente e importante, o CESE está empenhado em otimizar o potencial do referido acordo, em particular no tocante à sociedade civil do Reino Unido. O CESE está determinado a manter contactos estreitos com a sociedade civil do Reino Unido após o Brexit, a encorajar o diálogo e o intercâmbio de informações e a obter a participação das organizações da sociedade civil no processo de decisão no domínio social, preservando, assim, as sólidas relações políticas, sociais e económicas aprofundadas ao longo de mais de meio século de adesão do Reino Unido à UE.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

     

  • 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. 

     

  • 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. 

     

  • 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.

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

     

  • 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.

  • 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.

     

  • 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.