CoR's UK Contact Group meets

Local and regional politicians from both the European Union and the United Kingdom called on 24 January for regions and cities to be allowed a greater role in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which, since January 2021, has framed the UK-EU relationship in areas ranging from trade to the security of citizens.  

They were speaking at a meeting in Brussels of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR)-UK Contact Group, established by the CoR to help maintain ties forged in the 47 years of the UK's membership of the European Economic Community and European Union.

Alun Davies, a member of the Welsh Assembly, presented a report he had co-authored on behalf of the Welsh Parliament's Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee entitled "Inquiry into UK-EU governance". The report was published in November 2023. Mr Davies said that "there's a lack of territorial depth in the current agreements", and urged the European Commission to have more "ambition" for the future of the relationship, after elections to the UK and European parliaments this year.

Joseph Garcia, deputy chief minister of Gibraltar, said that the British overseas territory, which is not a party to the TCA, is optimistic for a "new treaty between the United Kingdom and the European Union on the relationship of Gibraltar to the European Union and with Spain next door" that would enable "free, open, fluid communication between Gibraltar and the neighbouring regions of Spain".

"We hope to be able, with positive engagement from all sides, to be able to conclude that discussion in the coming weeks," he said.

The meeting was chaired by Loïg Chesnais-Girard (FR/PES), president of the French region of Brittany. According to a study presented at the meeting, Brittany has seen large declines in trade, sales of agricultural goods, ferry travel, tourism, and particularly in school trips in its relationship with the UK since Brexit, though the declines were generally described as "not catastrophic".

Invited speakers at the meeting were:

• Jan Hendrik Dopheide, member of the cabinet of European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič;
• Isabelle Ioannides, of the European Parliamentary Research Service;
• Bernard Laurans, rapporteur for the Regional Economic, Social and Environmental Council of Brittany (CESER) on the "The challenges of Brexit in Brittany" study;
• Jack O'Connor, vice-chair of the EU-UK Follow-up Committee, European Economic and Social Committee.