The future of UK diplomacy in Europe

Author (Corporate)
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Series Title
Series Details (2017-19) HC514
Publication Date 30/01/2018
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Further information

Always in the UK's interests to co-operate with the EU

The UK could chart its own course in world affairs but it was in the UK's interests to work closely with the EU and its Member States on foreign policy, security and defence. In order to facilitate an effective level of collaboration, the Committee recommended that the Government sought to have a UK representative in meetings of the EU’s Political and Security Committee and that the UK and the EU established a UK-EU Strategic Partnership to facilitate enhanced dialogue.

FCO thinly-stretched in Europe

The FCO would need to work harder in the EU27 capitals after Brexit but the Committee was not satisfied that it had sufficient resources to do so. The FCO must increase its diplomatic presence in EU27 capitals, particularly Berlin, Paris and Dublin, without diverting resources from other areas.The UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee published a report called The future of UK diplomacy in Europe on the 30 January 2018. The members of the Committee argued that close relations with friends and allies in Europe, with whom the UK shared values and interests, must be a necessary element of ‘Global Britain’ but the UK Government must clarify what level of access to EU foreign, security and defence policy decision-making it aims to secure, and it must increase its diplomatic presence in the 27 EU capitals.

Committee called on the Government to work towards the goal of securing a level of automatic and institutionalised UK-EU collaboration that respected the decision-making autonomy of both. The Government must also set out its vision for post-Brexit UK foreign policy in Europe, spelling out overall goals and specific priorities.

Source Link https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmfaff/514/514.pdf
Related Links
The Guardian, 30.01.18: Boris Johnson accused of failing to organise his own office for Brexit https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/30/boris-johnson-accused-of-failing-to-organise-his-own-office-for-brexit
UK: Parliament: House of Commons: Committees: News, 30.01.18: Committee says Government must decide plans for post-Brexit relationships http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/foreign-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2017/future-eu-diplomacy-report-publication-17-19/
ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

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