A senior UK government minister has emphasized the “mutual goal of reaching a better UK-EU relationship.”
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, stressed that this goal is “very real.”
Speaking at the recent EU/UK Forum Annual Conference in Brussels, he stated, “It is obvious to me that at a time of such intense global change, the UK and the EU have many mutually aligned interests and challenges.”
“We want increased prosperity, we want to strengthen our security and we want our citizens to be safe,” he told the conference.
“These joint challenges that we face have been powerfully set out by our UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and indeed, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.”
“In her growth speech, the Chancellor didn’t shy away from the economic challenges that we are confronting. She said: ‘Growth will not come without a fight. Without a government willing to take the right decisions now to change our country’s future for the better. But for too long, that potential has been held back.’”
“On the same day, President von der Leyen presented the ‘Competitiveness Compass’ stating that ‘Europe has everything it needs to succeed. But, at the same time, we must fix our weaknesses to regain competitiveness.’”
“We know that low growth is not the destiny for our economies,” he added.
The minister highlighted that “Research and innovation, reducing red tape, a new skills agenda, boosting productivity and a more resilient economy – all these elements found in the Compass are also crucial parts of the UK Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.”
“These are areas of mutual interest to both of our economies, and that is why the work we are all engaged in is so vital.”
He continued, “In the UK and indeed in Brussels, we are clear-eyed about the scale of challenges that we face and the opportunities for growth and innovation.”
“The European Union is the UK’s biggest trading partner, with trade totaling – in 2023 – over £800bn. Many of our best education and science facilities have lifelong links, and our collaboration on research and development has been the springboard for hugely successful innovations that have driven growth and jobs.”
“And in a more uncertain world, we are regularly reminded that allies are more secure together than they are apart.”
“The UK Government’s position is simple: the UK and the EU are linked through trade and international organizations like NATO, and even though we voted to leave the EU, our role as key allies and trade partners remains.”
“We know that for these relationships to flourish, trust is a vital ingredient.”
He told the conference, “The UK Government recognizes that the UK’s signature means something, so we are committed to implementing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the Windsor Framework and building on that structure to address emerging challenges and opportunities.”
“We see real opportunities to improve the status quo. As ‘Businesseurope’ set out in their report this Autumn: ‘There remain many unnecessary barriers to trade and investment. Following the elections of new governments in the EU and UK, there is a clear opportunity to upgrade the relationship to deliver for businesses and citizens.’”
“I agree with them,” he told the packed Brussels audience.
“A study published last year showed that between 2021 and 2023, the goods EU businesses export to the UK were down by 32 per cent, while UK goods exports to the EU were down by 27%.”
“That is not good for British business or European businesses, especially at a time when our economies need a kickstart. Reducing trade barriers is of mutual benefit to the UK and the EU.”
“It was vital that we re-joined Horizon. We should never have left in the first place, but the gap in continuity and other challenges means we haven’t together achieved as much as we could have done.”
Speaking on 4 February, he said, “It’s especially bad when global competition for innovation has never been fiercer. When the UK should have been working more closely with international law enforcement on security, we frankly wasted years undermining the role of the ECHR in pursuit of a doomed Rwanda deportation scheme.”
“We cannot continue in this way with one of our largest, most important partners, and that is why this Government will always work in the UK’s national interest and that means being a ruthlessly pragmatic negotiator.”
“That means making the case for closer working with our allies in the EU, to make people across the UK and the EU safer, more secure, and more prosperous. That means making sure that we are working to strengthen cooperation, moving away from a zero-sum, win-lose dynamic we have seen in recent years, and that is the spirit I take into discussions with the EU.”
“The UK and the EU have many mutually beneficial interests, and I want to build on these as we work
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