Minister Thomas-Symonds speech at the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
Minister Thomas-Symonds speech at the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
It really is a pleasure to be here with you all today.
But I do want to just begin, by joining Maros in wishing all our Irish friends a very happy St Patricks Day.聽
I바카라 사이트檇 also like to thank the Assembly바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트specially the Chairs, Sandro and Marsha바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트or giving Maros and I this opportunity to speak to you all today.
And it is that idea of opportunity that I want to talk about바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ecause we have a chance to strengthen the strategic alliance between the UK and the EU바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd I want to talk about how 바카라 사이트� by being ruthlessly pragmatic 바카라 사이트� we can harness this opportunity, for the benefit of the people that we are all elected to serve.聽聽
Now this is the very first meeting of the reconstituted Assembly바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트� and I know that you are welcoming members, both new and old.
Since this 바카라 사이트 came into power, we have worked tirelessly to change the UK바카라 사이트檚 approach.聽
聽In the recent past, we have been too focused on what divides us바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd it바카라 사이트檚 those differences that have too often defined the agenda.
But I believe these groups and these meetings must be used for our collective good.
This Assembly was set up under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트o ensure the voices of parliamentarians - and, in turn, our citizens - can be heard.聽
You바카라 사이트檙e all serving the interests of the people who voted for you바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd we must use every opportunity available to us to build trust바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd improve cooperation.
And all of you here today 바카라 사이트� through your membership in the Assembly 바카라 사이트� are essential to that work.
Now, I have already met members of both delegations - and I am committed to maintaining that engagement.
The UK and EU바카라 사이트檚 future will be defined by how we both tackle our shared challenges together.
We are living through a period of generational challenge바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd I know as political leaders - we all feel the scale of this moment.聽
War in Ukraine바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트eople smuggled in treacherous conditions by treacherous criminals바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트he price of energy and the cost of inflation바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트chieving growth and prosperity to boost living standards for our citizens바카라 사이트β�
바카라 사이트ll of these challenges are exacerbated by a mindset of division.
They are problems across our continent바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd they require a coordinated response.
Just look at the actions of our Prime Minister this year.
He was delighted to be a part of the European Leaders retreat last month바카라 사이트�
聽바카라 사이트here he made the case for greater cooperation between the EU and the UK.
On 2 March, he hosted European leaders, as well as the NATO Secretary General and the Presidents of the EU Commission, EU Council and indeed welcomed Canada바카라 사이트β�
바카라 사이트or a summit focused on Ukraine.
The importance of these meetings cannot be overstated.
They are emblematic of how seriously this 바카라 사이트 takes European security.
And there is no greater imperative to this than supporting Ukraine.
In the face of Russia바카라 사이트檚 illegal and barbaric invasion, we must be resilient.
It is why we recently announced an increase in UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP.
We are stepping up, and we know that the EU is stepping up, too.
It was heartening to see 바카라 사이트� on the anniversary of the invasion 바카라 사이트� that the EU reaffirmed its unwavering support.
And at the European Council meeting earlier this month, where EU leaders agreed a significant increase in defence spending.聽
I know that, together, we are determined to help Ukraine prevail바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd rebuild.
We must keep pushing 바카라 사이트� together 바카라 사이트� to find new ways to achieve this.
At a time of such intense global change, I believe it is vital to recognise what unites the UK and the EU바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd understand how our mutual priorities can be realised through teamwork.
We saw that in action this January바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트here, on the same day, the UK Chancellor and the President of the European Commission gave speeches about the challenges facing them.
Both spoke about their desire for growth바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트oth spoke about how their potential had been held back바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd both spoke too about the importance of trade openness.
In fact, both our Prime Minister바카라 사이트檚 바카라 사이트楶lan for Change바카라 사이트� and the President바카라 사이트檚 바카라 사이트楥ompetitiveness Compass바카라 사이트� focused on the same priorities바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ike reducing red tape, improving skills and a more resilient economy.
The UK government was elected on a mandate to increase our security, keep our citizens safe and to encourage growth.
Europe is a crucial partner in these priorities바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd, indeed, Europe shares those concerns.
That is why we are living up to the obligations we have in existing Agreements and Frameworks바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트hat is how trust is earned.聽
No more threats to break international law in 바카라 사이트榣imited and specific ways바카라 사이트�바카라 사이트β�
바카라 사이트nd no more undermining of the ECHR.
So we are respectful of the TCA and the Windsor Framework바카라 사이트β�
바카라 사이트nd we want to build on that structure to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
The Prime Minister has tasked me with leading these discussions with Maros바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트upported by our new EU Sherpa Micheal Ellam.聽
And I want to thank Maros - not only for the way he has been so constructive in his relationship with me바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ut for the many years - and no doubt late nights - that he has dedicated to the EU - UK relationship바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ut also the pragmatism he is known and respected for.聽聽
And in our discussions I have always been clear about our desire to strengthen our alliance - and I focus on the three priorities I mentioned바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트n security, safety and prosperity바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트here I believe there is much benefit to be gained.
And it바카라 사이트檚 these priorities I would like to focus on.
First, security.
Now, I바카라 사이트檝e already spoken about how seriously we바카라 사이트檙e taking this바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd I know that it is a topic you will be discussing later today.
But it bears repeating: to keep Europe secure, we need to support allies like Ukraine바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd work with NATO on security and defence.
As the Prime Minister said in the UK Parliament recently, we have:聽
바카라 사이트淎 recognition of the fact that once again, we live in an era where peace in Europe depends upon strength and deterrence.바카라 사이트�
So, we are seeking a broad UK-EU cooperation on security and defence matters바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd we바카라 사이트檙e ready to negotiate a Security and Defence Partnership.
This has been central to the Prime Minister바카라 사이트檚 approach with European leaders.
When he visited the informal European Leaders바카라 사이트� Summit, he discussed what this partnership could include바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd what it could address.
He suggested a focus on R&D바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트mproved military mobility across Europe 바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트reater co-operation on missions and operations바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd building on our industrial collaboration.
Building on that commitment, let me turn to the next pillar: safety.
I am clear that if we want to protect our respective borders바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd keep our citizens safe바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트hen we need to work together.
The criminals that we all try and combat pay no respect to our borders바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트hether they바카라 사이트檙e taking part in the vile global trade in human trafficking바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트r planning a terrorist attack to push their agenda and terrify our citizens.
These challenges plague us all바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd I believe that it is only through greater cooperation that we can remain safe.
It바카라 사이트檚 why we have already increased the UK바카라 사이트檚 presence at Europol바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ut I believe we should be going further.
We need to think of new ways to coordinate our security바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd ensure we have the intelligence and skills to combat cross-Europe criminal enterprises.
And finally, prosperity.
The European Union is the UK바카라 사이트檚 biggest trading partner바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ith trade totalling over 拢800bn in 2023.
And while that figure is still impressive, we know it is not as good as it could be.
A study published last year by Aston University Business School showed that, compared to a counterfactual scenario without Brexit, between 2021 and 2023, the goods EU businesses export to the UK were down by 32%바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트hile UK goods exports to the EU were down by 27%.
What I바카라 사이트檓 hearing from businesses that I speak to is that this drop is down to them facing more barriers and more costs.
They바카라 사이트檙e frustrated, and I can understand why.
As 바카라 사이트楤usinesseurope바카라 사이트� set out in a report this Autumn, and I quote: 바카라 사이트淭here 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.바카라 사이트�
And that is why we want to build on the structures we have - the TCA and the Windsor Framework바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트o tear down trade barriers and make Brexit work better for the British and European people.
We have already said that we will seek to negotiate a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트o help boost trade바카라 사이트β�
and deliver benefits to businesses and consumers in both the UK and the EU.聽
Now, all these issues have been at the forefront of our 바카라 사이트바카라 사이트檚 discussions with the EU.
In fact, since the UK election, there have been over 70 direct engagements between UK ministers and their EU Counterparts.
We have agreed to hold regular UK-EU Summits바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ith the very first one, as Maros has said, being hosted in London on 19th May바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트hich will be a great opportunity to strengthen this work further.
But ultimately, this is all about building trust바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd this 바카라 사이트 wants to keep its word바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd become a trusted and stable partner.
Our discussions continue on the full implementation of the TCA and the Withdrawal Agreement 바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ith almost all of our Specialised Committees meeting last year바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트nd there are plans in place to meet again in the coming months.
The co-chairs continually update each other on their progress바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트hilst monitoring and reporting on their passage to full and faithful implementation.
We fully believe in these structures바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트ut we also fully believe in the opportunities to improve the status quo.
So, ladies and gentlemen, the time for ideologies is over.
The time for ruthless pragmatism is now.
And it is the only way we can seek a closer, more cooperative relationship.
After all, a stronger UK-EU relationship means a stronger Europe.
This Assembly will be a vital part of that journey바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트here that mutual interest will be demonstrated and discussed.
I also know that many of you have deep expertise, insights and passion for this agenda바카라 사이트�
바카라 사이트� and I am sure that this forum will be a fantastic way to bring these to bear.聽
I want to thank you for the time you have given me to discuss my work. To say how much that I am looking forward together.聽
This forum, this Assembly is such an important part of hat shared future and what a pleasure it is to discuss this with you today.聽
Thank you.
Updates to this page
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Updated to contextualise external research paper on UK-EU trade volumes
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First published.