Original text
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Commissioner Šefčovič at the European Parliament Plenary debate on the EU-UK Summit: renewed ambition for a closer partnership Strasbourg, 20 October 2026 Madam President, Honourable members. We have been working intensively with our UK partners to prepare our upcoming Summit on 20 November. This will be the second Summit at Leaders level since the UK's...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Commissioner Šefčovič at the European Parliament Plenary debate on the EU-UK Summit: renewed ambition for a closer partnership Strasbourg, 20 October 2026 Madam President, Honourable members. We have been working intensively with our UK partners to prepare our upcoming Summit on 20 November. This will be the second Summit at Leaders level since the UK's withdrawal from the EU, and it represents significant progress in our relationship. We have been in close contact with our UK partners, with President von der Leyen meeting with UK Prime Minister Burnham in New York in September. While I have been in close touch with my counterpart, Hamish Falconer, including a phone call just this morning. Our partnership with the UK remains of vital importance in the current geopolitical, security and economic context. It is therefore in our best interests to make further progress in our relationship with a close partner and ally. While of course always ensuring EU interests always remain at the heart of what we do. Madam President, Honourable members. I would like to highlight three points on our expectations for the Summit. First, in the Common Understanding agreed at the 2025 Summit, the EU and UK recommitted to the full, timely and faithful implementation of the existing agreements. Namely, the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. As I have underlined many times, these agreements are the cornerstone of our bilateral relations and the essential foundation for our cooperation. The Withdrawal Agreement protects almost 6 million EU citizens in the UK and about 1 million UK nationals in the EU. We must ensure they can fully enjoy their rights, now and in the future. That is why we continue to push for solutions on all matters affecting them. The Windsor Framework plays a vital role in avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, thus protecting the hard-earned gains of the peace process. Work continues towards ensuring its full delivery, as flexibilities for the benefit of people and businesses in Northern Ireland go hand in hand with safeguards for the protection of the EU Single Market. As regards the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, it remains the most ambitious free trade agreement the EU has concluded with any third country. So far it has operated very well, allowing the EU and the UK to further develop our relationship on a firm and stable basis. Second, the Summit will be an opportunity to take stock of achievements under the Common Understanding. Decisions on fisheries and energy were adopted one month after the last Summit. While the agreement on the UK's association to Erasmus+ was signed in April, enabling the UK's participation in the programme in 2027. We aim to complete negotiations on a common sanitary and phyto-sanitary area, a linkage between our emissions trading systems, and the creation of a youth experience scheme, as a package for the Summit. Negotiations have also begun on agreements regarding the UK's participation in the EU's internal electricity market. And on an appropriate financial contribution from the UK towards reducing economic, social and territorial disparities between regions in the Union. These negotiations will continue beyond the Summit. Third, the EU and UK continue to work together to support Ukraine. Following the signature of a contribution agreement on 13 July 2026, the UK can now participate under the EU's 90 billion-euro Ukraine Support Loan. The EU and the UK stand firm in their commitment to support Ukraine as long as it takes, to bring Russia's illegal war of aggression to an end and secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. Given the geopolitical context, which is much changed since the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, and in view of the next Summit, we believe there is merit in exploring new areas of cooperation of common interest. For example, businesses operating across the EU and the UK are part of integrated value chains, and we are committed to cooperating on ways to support this. We recognise the importance of working together with close international partners, and avoiding barriers to trade, in responding to the challenges of the modern global economy. At the Partnership Council meeting in February, we agreed on the importance of engagement on economic security. In respect of bilateral trade of steel, we share the same need to swiftly implement effective domestic measures to protect our respective industries. We will continue to work together, including through the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity, to address the root causes of global overcapacity, and strengthen transparency in the global steel market. We also continue to look at ways to strengthen our cooperation on digital and defence industrial matters. I will stop there, and I look forward to the debate. SPEECH/26/2207 <@rel_link@>
Speech Brief