Third Civil Society Forum of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, 20 September 2024: conclusions
Published 8 January 2025
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The third meeting of the Civil Society Forum (CSF) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland took place in Brussels in a hybrid format on 20 September 2024.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ignacio Iruarrizaga Diez (Head of Unit, Europe and Eastern Neighbourhood, DG Trade, European Commission) for the EU and Dunstan Hadley (Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement, EU Directorate, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) for the UK.
Between 150 to 200 (online and in person) UK and EU representatives from business, trade unions and other non-governmental organisations followed and participated in the CSF.
The agenda included: trade in goods, level playing field and regulatory cooperation, trade in services and energy.
1. Introduction
The EU and UK co-chairs welcomed the participants and thanked the team of officials for organising the Forum. They noted the EU and UK’s shared ambition to strengthen their relations in areas of shared interest and reiterated their commitment to maximising the opportunities provided by the TCA. The Parties also recalled the importance of the role of the CSF and Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) in the implementation of the Agreement.
2. Trade in goods
Participants raised a range of issues relating to customs, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
Participants stressed the importance of communication and consultation to support businesses and consumers. Specific issues included the interoperability between EU and UK customs procedures; rules of origin; the UK’s Border Target Operating Model; regulatory divergence between the Parties; continued UK recognition of CE product labelling, circular economy legislative initiatives and the need for having a fiscal representative for VAT purposes.
There were additional calls for guidance on customs procedures as well as a request to digitalise customs infrastructure. Stakeholders argued that a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement would facilitate trade. Stakeholders also welcomed the EU and UK’s political commitment to find solutions on product safety and market surveillance.
3. Level playing field and regulatory cooperation
Participants stressed that abiding by level playing field provisions in the TCA should be a priority for the parties to ensure high level standards for labour and social rights, environmental and climate protection as well as a framework for subsidy control which contributes to preserving fair competition between EU and UK firms.
Participants welcomed the policy announcements on labour policy such as the Employment Rights Bill and the repeal of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act. Stakeholders also enquired about the UK’s plans for consultations that were launched as part of the Retained EU Law Act under the previous government. Participants also stressed the importance of article 2 commitments in the Windsor Framework.
Participants noted the importance of cooperation in the area of chemicals (REACH) to avoid further divergence. They also urged the Parties to cooperate on areas such as Animal Welfare and Deforestation.
4. Trade in services
Stakeholders encouraged the EU and the UK to reduce barriers to trade in services in order to enhance the short-term mobility of professionals. In this regard, stakeholders encouraged the EU and the UK to address issues such as the UK sponsorship scheme for EU service suppliers and visa requirements for EU and UK touring artists. Participants expressed concerns with the upcoming EU Entry-Exit System and the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation system.
Participants encouraged the EU and the UK to explore the possibility of concluding agreements relating to improving the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. Stakeholders also underlined the importance of data flows and raised the question of data privacy legislation and adequacy decisions. The participants also raised the review foreseen in Article 126 TCA.
Participants urged the EU and the UK to consider prioritising an agreement on youth mobility that would create opportunities for young people to study and work in the EU and the UK. Moreover, they encouraged the EU and the UK to discuss association to Erasmus+ and Creative Europe. Finally, participants welcomed the Memorandum of Understanding on regulatory cooperation on financial services.
5. Energy
Participants encouraged the EU and the UK to cooperate on areas of shared interest such as achieving net zero commitments and energy security.
Participants stressed the UK and EU should continue cooperation on energy security and the development of renewable technologies in the North Seas, including through the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC). Participants recognised the value of the TCA Energy Title in underpinning this cooperation and highlighted areas where further collaboration is required, notably on the design and implementation of more efficient electricity trading arrangements.
Participants also raised issues pertaining to the design and implementation of the EU and UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and urged the EU and UK to give a serious consideration to linking their respective Emission Trading Systems (ETS).
6. Conclusions from DAG chairs and co-chairs
The UK and EU DAG chairs thanked all participants and the UK and EU teams of officials for organising the Civil Society Forum.
Both chairs stressed the importance of the EU and UK DAG working together with the objective to maximise the possibilities of the TCA. Both chairs underlined their mutual commitment to the full and faithful implementation of those agreements. They also recalled the importance of a continued engagement of both parties with the EU and UK DAGs as laid down in the TCA. The EU and UK DAG chairs referred to the Joint Statement which had been issued ahead of the Civil Society Forum and which highlights the challenges faced in the implementation of the TCA.
The CSF co-chairs again thanked the participants for their engagement and noted the publication of the Joint Statement. Both chairs underlined their mutual commitment to the full and faithful implementation of the TCA and re-affirmed the role of the CSF as an important forum to discuss matters relating to the implementation of Part II of the TCA.