Changes from plenary report to adopted text

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

– having regard to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (TCA),

– having regard to the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (the Withdrawal Agreement),

– having regard to the Windsor Framework that lists the provisions of Union law which are to apply to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland,

– having regard to the Joint Statement, the Security and Defence Partnership and the Common Understanding on a renewed agenda for EU-UK cooperation of 19 May 2025,

– having regard to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 and subsequent implementing agreements,

– having regard to the Commission report of 21 March 2024 on the implementation and application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 1 January – 31 December 2023 (COM(2024)0127),

– having regard to the Commission report of 4 April 2025 on the implementation and application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 1 January – 31 December 2024 (COM(2025)0149),

– having regard to its resolutions of 2 April 2025 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2024 and on the implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1755 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 2021 establishing the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR Regulation),

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2023/657 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2023 laying down rules for the exercise of the Union’s rights in the implementation and enforcement of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part,

– having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement,

– having regard to the meetings and positions of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA),

– having regard to the Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 of 19 March 2025 (JOIN(2025)0120),

– having regard to its resolution of 12 March 2025 on the white paper on the future of European defence,

– having regard to Sauli Niinistö’s report of 30 October 2024 entitled ‘Safer Together - strengthening Europe’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness’,

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 19 March 2025 for a Council Regulation establishing the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) through the reinforcement of European defence industry Instrument (COM(2025)0122),

– having regard to the Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for financial services regulatory cooperation between the EU and the UK of 27 June 2023 and to the subsequent establishment of a Joint EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum,

– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights,

– having regard to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC),

– having regard to the European Social Charter,

– having regard to International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions and Protocols, in particular the ILO’s fundamental instruments,

– having regard to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, known as the Montego Bay Convention,

– having regard to the ruling of the Arbitration Tribunal of 28 April 2025 in the matter of an arbitration pursuant to Article 739 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning the decision of the United Kingdom to prohibit fishing for sand eel,

– having regard to Decision No 1/2023 of the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination established by Article 8(1)(p) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, of 10 March 2023 as regards the use of the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information for the transmission of data between institutions or liaison bodies,

– having regard to Decision No 2/2023 of the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination established by Article 8(1)(p) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, of 28 June 2023 as regards the designation of the financial institution to serve as reference to determine the interest rate for late payments and the exchange rate for currency conversions, as well as the date to be taken into consideration for determining the rates of currency conversion,

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure, as well as Article 1(1)(f) of, and Annex 3 to, the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 11 December 2024 on the procedure for granting authorisation to draw up own-initiative reports,

– having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, Committee on Transport and Tourism, Committee on Fisheries, Committee on Culture and Education and Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on International Trade (A10-0226/2025),

A. whereas the EU and the UK, as part of the same continent and bound by geographical proximity, shared values and strategic interests, are facing similar challenges, such as climate change, a critical and volatile global security environment and a shifting global order marked by a war on the European continent and the rapid erosion of the international rules-based order, which put increased pressure on our societies, economies and security structures; whereas this state of affairs increases the need to step up mutual cooperation on foreign affairs and defence; whereas the current geopolitical situation and global challenges show that closer cooperation between the EU and the UK is necessary for the security, stability and prosperity of the whole continent; whereas closer EU-UK cooperation, based on the predictability and structure provided by the TCA, is more essential than ever to safeguard mutual interests and enhance resilience;

B. whereas the EU and the UK have recently demonstrated renewed political determination to work together and continue to be strong partners in addressing global challenges and security threats, including the threat posed by Russia to the security of the entire continent of Europe and to the rules-based global order; whereas in March 2025, UK Prime Minister Starmer announced the building of a ‘coalition of the willing’ to enhance coordinated support for Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s aggression as long as necessary;

C. whereas the open and connected societies and economies of the UK and the EU are increasingly being subject to brazen hybrid campaigns including cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), sabotage and the instrumentalisation of migration;

D. whereas at the EU-UK Summit of 19 May 2025, both sides reaffirmed their renewed political determination to work together as close and reliable partners in addressing the common global challenges we face; whereas this was most clearly demonstrated through the establishment of a Security and Defence Partnership, as well as through their continued and united support for Ukraine in defending itself against Russia’s aggression and restoring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, including through strengthened security commitments;

E. whereas multilateralism, the defence of the rules-based international order, peace, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, the market economy, sustainable development and free trade are core principles of both the EU and the UK; whereas the TCA provides a framework that could be enhanced over time to meet shared strategic and economic goals; whereas the TCA provides the necessary legal certainty to foster trade and promote smooth cooperation;

F. whereas the governance structures established under the TCA, including the Partnership Council and other joint bodies, have functioned effectively, with over 35 meetings held in 2024 to monitor the implementation of the Agreement;

H. whereas the implementation of the TCA can serve as a valuable incentive to promote training, skills development and investments in intangible assets, such as human capital, both within the EU and beyond its borders; whereas the importance of fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration to enhance the skills of individuals, thereby contributing to a more competitive, sustainable and inclusive global workforce, is recognised;

I. whereas the TCA is the first trade agreement signed by the EU that includes the Paris Agreement as an essential clause; whereas, similarly, the participation of both the UK and the EU Member States in the European Convention on Human Rights is a key provision of the Agreement; whereas the TCA does not cover financial services, migration, the Erasmus+ programme, foreign policy or defence; whereas the EU-UK Summit held on 19 May 2025 established key steps to fill these gaps;

J. whereas the TCA places an obligation on both parties to respect fundamental rights and legal principles as reflected, in particular, in the European Convention on Human Rights; whereas rulings of the European Court of Human Rights are an essential part of the human rights architecture across the European continent; whereas in January 2024, Ireland brought an inter-State application against the UK before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023;

K. whereas the TCA does not include a framework for cooperation on foreign, security and defence policy; whereas both the EU and the UK have since explicitly recognised the importance and added value of structured cooperation in these fields, particularly in the light of the current geopolitical context; whereas the EU-UK Summit held on 19 May 2025 resulted in the signing of a Security and Defence Partnership, marking a key step towards formalising such cooperation; whereas deeper cooperation in these areas would contribute to strengthening European security, resilience and shared prosperity for all citizens, with its benefits also being felt beyond our borders;

L. whereas the EU Member States have diverse military and security policies, including policies of neutrality; whereas such policies should be respected;

M. whereas the UK and France are the only European countries in possession of nuclear weapons; whereas nuclear deterrent is of crucial importance in protecting Europe as a continent; whereas Parliament reaffirms its full support for the EU and its Member States’ commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime; whereas Parliament insists on the need to ensure that the EU plays a strong and constructive role in developing and reinforcing global rules-based non-proliferation efforts and arms control and disarmament architecture;

N. whereas the Withdrawal Agreement and the TCA constitute the framework for the UK’s relationship with the EU; whereas both agreements have been ratified by the EU and the UK and are legally binding treaties under international law; whereas the relationship between the EU and the UK must be based on full respect for and the effective application of these international commitments;

O. whereas Parliament continues to pay special attention to the situation of EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in the EU; whereas the UK’s Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements received 79 complaints from EU and European Economic Area citizens between 1 January to 30 June 2023; whereas the majority of complaints relate to the right to reside, in particular regarding long waiting times for EU Settlement Scheme applications, similarly long waiting times for Family Permit applications, and lengthy EU Settlement Scheme administrative reviews, followed by the issue of equal treatment; whereas in December 2024, the IMA reported a 21 % refusal rate regarding EU Settlement Scheme applications made in Northern Ireland, making it the highest refusal rate in the UK;

P. whereas the EU has a particular responsibility to ensure that both the Good Friday Agreement and peace in Northern Ireland are upheld; whereas the implementation of the TCA is directly linked to the full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement; whereas its full implementation was delayed while the EU and the UK were finding common solutions to the practical challenges created in the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland resulting from Brexit;

Q. whereas the Windsor Framework, concluded in 2023, addresses some of the practical challenges that have arisen in the operation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland over the first years of its implementation and creates greater legal certainty, therefore, paving the way for full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the TCA in Northern Ireland; whereas the Windsor Framework covers a wide number of areas, such as democratic governance, rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity, trade, customs, agri-food, medicines, State aid, VAT and excise duties; whereas the Good Friday Agreement has underpinned peace and stability on the island of Ireland for over 25 years; whereas the unique status of Northern Ireland, as recognised in the Protocol and the Windsor Framework, must be fully respected in future EU-UK negotiations to ensure that no arrangement jeopardises this achievement; whereas the current UK Government has committed to repeal and replace the previous government’s Legacy Act; whereas the current global trade turmoil has a unique impact on Northern Ireland due to its unique position arising from Brexit and whereas both the UK and the EU must be cognisant of this position when formulating trade policy;

R. whereas the conclusion of the Windsor Framework along with the UK Prime Minister’s pledge to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with the EU in July 2024 opened a new and ambitious chapter in relations between the EU and the UK;

S. whereas the EU-UK Summit held on 19 May 2025 had positive outcomes for both parties and reaffirmed their political commitment to deepen the partnership, including through a strategic partnership; whereas the Summit resulted in progress on a range of issues including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, youth mobility and energy cooperation;

T. whereas the EU-UK Summit laid the groundwork for a more structured and forward-looking bilateral agenda; whereas this Summit was intended to mark the beginning of regular and structured political dialogue, with further meetings anticipated on areas such as foreign, security and defence policy, mobility, energy, climate, research and internal security; whereas the Commission has confirmed that the exploratory discussions held in the lead-up to the Summit form part of a broader ongoing process aimed at deepening cooperation across multiple fields;

U. whereas the commitments made during the EU-UK Summit should be more than just political statements and should also be accompanied by concrete and legally binding agreements and deliverables for both the EU and the UK within a reasonable time frame, particularly for their citizens and their businesses;

V. whereas the EU and the UK must adapt to evolving dynamics in transatlantic security and must strengthen their own capabilities, together with other like-minded partners, to address these developments;

W. whereas the TCA requires respect for democracy, the rule of law and the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, including those set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights; whereas these rights serve as guiding principles for the work of the domestic advisory groups (DAGs), including on the TCA Chapters; whereas the EU DAGs play a key role in monitoring the implementation of the TCA; whereas the Civil Society Forum, established under Article 14 of the TCA, serves as a vital platform for civil society organisations, EU businesses, trade unions and other workers’ organisations to express their views on the implementation of the TCA and plays an essential role in supporting the Commission’s dialogue with the UK;

X. whereas on 19 May 2025, the EU and the UK adopted a political agreement that will allow full reciprocal access to waters to fish until 30 June 2038;

Y. whereas the EU remains the UK’s most important trading partner; whereas recognising the importance of transparency and stability in international trade and investment is to the benefit of all stakeholders and parties; whereas a predictable commercial environment that fosters trade and investment between the EU and the UK, and that leads to growth and employment, is crucial;

Z. whereas although the TCA ensures zero tariffs and quotas, it does not eliminate non-tariff barriers; whereas as a result of Brexit, businesses, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), face increased customs declarations, compliance checks and regulatory requirements, leading to higher operational costs and significant delays at borders; whereas inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of trained customs agents have put further strain on the system, causing disruptions in the timely movement of goods;