Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds Speech at the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly Plenary - 17 November
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-18)

Nick Thomas-Symonds, Minister for European Union Relations, outlines how the UK is strengthening relationships with the EU across trade, security, and people-to-people links to deliver shared prosperity and collective European security.

Introduction

I’d like to start by thanking our Parliamentary Partnership Assembly chairs, Marsha and Sandro…

…for giving me the opportunity to speak to you all today.

I’m also delighted to welcome European Parliament members here this morning…

…some of whom, I believe, have never been inside the Houses of Parliament before.

It is a particularly cavernous building…

…and it is very easy to get lost…

…especially when you are rushing to vote.

But in that instance, it’s actually very simple.

Voting in Parliament is a lot like a Picasso portrait…

…the eyes are on the right…

…and the nose are on the left.

I put a lot of importance on this partnership…

…because of its role in creating trust and understanding between the UK and the EU.

Never before has that trust been more vital…

…especially as we continue to work closer together…

…and, through that partnership, address our shared priorities.

Existing Agreements

That trust is built on the agreements between us…

…and we gain more trust by demonstrating how we keep to them.

Whether it’s implementing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement…

…the Withdrawal Agreement…

…or the Windsor Framework…

…meetings like this afford us the opportunity to discuss their implementation.

We have seen what these agreements can create…

…for example, if we look at the past five years after the end of the transition period…

…over 4 million people have received settled status, under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Now, that is progress – progress thanks to our partnership…

…and throughout 2025, we have had more chances to build a closer relationship.

The majority of Specialised Committees are meeting this year…

…in fact, the most recent Trade Specialised Committee took place just five days ago.

I am pleased that the Co-Chairs for each committee meet regularly in-between the meetings…

…so that any update on implementation is recognised, and any issues can be overcome.

This is a great place to start from…

…and we know that we have our work cut out for us…

…especially if we want to address emerging challenges and opportunities.

This cooperation was at the very heart of our Summit earlier this year…

…as was our commitment to strengthen - and build on - that relationship.

Challenges Facing Europe

After all, we have much in common.

Both our Parliaments are fighting the same fights…

…in some cases, very literally.

Europe is now three and a half years into a war…

…one that has seen so many casualties.

Our collective European security is under threat…

…which means we need a collective European response.

Now, I am proud of the role that the UK Government has taken when it comes to Ukraine…

…and I am particularly proud of our partnership with the European Parliament.

Our Prime Minister could not be clearer: European security is our top priority.

I will speak a little more on this in a moment…

…but it has been inspiring to see overwhelming support for Ukraine across our Parliaments.

But that conflict is not the only issue that binds us.

Illegal migration and people smuggling gangs continue to blight our borders…

…and, more positively, we all want to generate growth…

… put more money in people’s pockets…

… and generate opportunities for young people.

It is clear to me, given these shared priorities, that we must commit to further collaboration…

…and find ways to make the UK and Europe safer and more prosperous.

UK-EU Summit Outcomes

Now, since the last Assembly, we hosted the first UK-EU Summit…

…where the UK Prime Minister and Commission President welcomed our new strategic partnership and a landmark deal to…

…grow our respective economies…

…strengthen our borders…

…and help make the entire continent more secure.

Before we begin today in earnest, I believe we should remind ourselves of this work…

…and how, since the Summit, we have been building on what we agreed on.

At the deal’s heart was the Security and Defence Partnership…

…a joint commitment to working together for European security.

I’m pleased our negotiations on Security Action for Europe are developing..

This is very welcome…

…and I hope that our European Parliament colleagues will support this progress.

I cannot overstate the importance of the UK being a part of Member State procurements plans for the first round of loans.

It will strengthen and expand our collective European defence capabilities…

…a cause which we have shown the UK is committed to.

Since September, the Minister for Europe has led discussions with his EU counterparts on some of our biggest priorities…

… including Russia/Ukraine, hybrid threats and Western Balkans.

This cooperation is already delivering results.

This July, we worked closely with the EU to lower the Oil Price Cap…

…and clamp down on revenues to Russia.

We welcome the EU’s 19th sanctions package, adopted on 23 October…

where they matched our sanctions on oil giant Rosneft.

In October, we delivered a successful UK-hosted Berlin Process on the Western Balkans…

…which will promote regional cooperation…

…and deliver security and growth.

We’re already working together to help bring those who smuggle people across the English Channel to justice.

This international cooperation is vital…

…because the criminal gangs do not respect international borders and law.

But again, we can – and must – go further.

Our new commitments in the Common Understanding outlined how we will strengthen cooperation on law enforcement, judicial cooperation and on tackling irregular migration…

… and I’m keen we make progress in these areas as quickly as possible.

When it comes to trade, there’s been plenty of progress here, too.

Which is very welcome…

…because British and EU businesses tell us time and again that they are being held back by red tape.

The Summit made it clear – we need to tackle barriers to trade…

…so we can drive investment, jobs and growth for both the UK and EU economies.

That’s why we have agreed to work on a Sanitary and Phytosanitary deal.

It’s a deal which is good for both sides…

…making food and agriculture trade with the EU cheaper and easier…

…slashing red tape and bureaucracy.

And it will give a much needed boost to British exporters, too…

…because, once again after a long absence…

…we’ll be able to sell great British burgers, shellfish and other products into the EU.

We have also helped to create a more energy-resilient continent.

By linking the UK and the European energy and carbon markets, we can lower prices for industries and households…

…making us all more resilient to price shocks.

I very much welcome last week’s progress…

…on the agreed Sanitary and Phytosanitary and Emission Trading System mandates.

This is an important step in maintaining positive momentum and realising commitments made at the Summit…

…and the UK stands ready to start talks, now those mandates have been agreed.

Finally, we have agreed to strengthen our people to people links.

We are working towards a youth experience scheme…

…to allow our young people to travel and work freely in Europe.

There is a palpable interest in this work…

…and it is something many of the students and young people I have spoken to – both here in the UK and across Europe – are excited about.

But I am clear with them, this will come with all the appropriate time-limits…

…visa requirements…

…and subject to an agreed number of places.

We are also working towards the UK’s association to Erasmus+.

If we joined, it would offer our learners and staff across the education, training, youth and sport sectors so much…

…from school exchanges…

…work placements…

…language courses and semesters abroad…

…to international youth work projects…

…and training for grassroots sports staff.

Again, we will only associate to Erasmus+ on financial terms that offer a fair balance…

…meaning the EU shouldn’t subsidise the UK’s participation…

…but nor should the UK subsidise the EU.

Conclusion

All this means that we have busy weeks to come…

…but, at least the road ahead is clear.

We have agreed on the principles of our new partnership…

…but we now need to progress with the detailed negotiations.

Then, our citizens will be able to see the benefits in their daily lives of our strengthened cooperation .

The first UK-EU Summit agreed on an ambitious agenda…

…and future summits will provide us with opportunities to further strengthen our relationship.

This is in both the UK’s and the EU’s interests…

…a stronger UK-EU relationship means a stronger Europe.

Of course, the PPA will play a key role in strengthening that relationship…

…demonstrating the mutual interest that binds us.

I look forward to discussing this with you all…

…and continuing that partnership into the future.

I wish the Assembly all the very best today and tomorrow.

Thank you very much.