Brussels, 13 May 2025
Today in the AFET committee, European People’s Party (EPP) rapporteur for the UK participated in a debate on the report on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
Zovko stressed that deepening the EU’s relations with the UK is all more important in a context of geopolitical and trade upheaval, as the EU and the UK share numerous common interests.
On trade, the EU has continued to be the UK’s first trade partner since the signature and implementation of the TCA. Likewise, in the area of foreign affairs and security, the EU and the UK are faced with the same challenges in terms of counter terrorism, hybrid threats and rising instability.
Zovko also highlighted the need to enhance the EU’s partnership with the UK on security and strategic questions.
However, Zovko stressed that in its dialogue with the UK, the EU must make clear that the strengthening of the relation with the UK must lead to a win win outcome. That taking into account the problems of every Member State and notably the interests of coastal countries.
Zovko also underlined that transparency is a precondition of enhanced cooperation and that the EU needs clarification on the reasons why the UK is not willing to cooperate more with the EU in some areas such as the Western Balkans.
“Provided that these elements are met, the summit of 19 May represents a unique opportunity to deepen our cooperation with the UK and to establish a more structured cooperation on the areas of foreign affairs, security and defence”, Zovko concluded.