Activities of Barry ANDREWS related to 2022/2188(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Amendments (17)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regards to Article 524 of the TCA
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Windsor Framework addresses the challenges that have arisen in the operation of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland over the first two years of its implementation, creates legal certainty and therefore paves the way for full implementation; welcomes the UK Government’s July 2023 guidance on the Windsor Framework and its commitment to ensuring full implementation [1] [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collection s/the-windsor-framework-further-detail- and-publications#full-publication-update- history
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the importance of transparency in international trade and investment is to the benefit of all stakeholders and all parties; whereas a predictable commercial environment that fosters trade and investment between the EU and the UK is welcome,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. IsUnderlines that Article 524 of the TCA provides that the cooperation is based on the Parties' and Member States' long-standing respect for democracy, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, including as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the European Convention on Human Rights, and on the importance of giving effect to the rights and freedoms in that Convention domestically; is therefore deeply concerned by the Illegal Migration Bill, which passed through the UK Parliament on 26 April 2023, and, if adopted, could have the potential to diverge from the European Convention on Human Rights, causing clear divergence between the two parties and could, according to the TCA, lead to the termination of law enforcement cooperation between the UK and the EU;
Amendment 32 #
6. Welcomes the swift setting up of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) and notes that two meetings have already taken place in 2022 and two more have been scheduled for 2023; considers that the PPA provides a good framework for parliamentary cooperation and open exchanges between parliamentarians on topics of common interest; calls on the PPA to provide increased scrutiny of both the Commission and the UK Government; requests that special attention be given to Northern Ireland due to its specific situation;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the swift setting up of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) and notes that twohree meetings have already taken place in 2022 and two2023, and one more haves been scheduled for late 2023; considers that the PPA provides a good framework for parliamentary cooperation and open exchanges between parliamentarians on topics of common interest;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Reaffirms Parliament’s commitment to closely monitor the implementation of the TCA; recalls that the Commission should immediately and regularfully and immediately provide Parliament with information relating to the implementation of TCA to ensure adequate scrutiny, , if necessary on a confidential basis; welcomes the continued good cooperation between Parliament and the Commission;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines the specific situation of Northern Ireland thanks to its unique position, with access to both the EU and UK internal markets; suggests therefore the establishment of an EU one-stop shop in Belfast where people and business would get the assistance and expertise they need to navigate the legislation applicable to them and the necessary help to unlock the full potential of the new arrangements set out in the Windsor Framework;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes note of the Commission’s assessment that overall, the trade arrangements in goods and services established in the TCA are working well, although certain implementation difficulties have persisted such as the sponsorship scheme for the entry and temporary stay of natural persons for business purposes and the verification of origin for applying preferential tariff treatment; notes that as of August 2023, the UK Government has postponed sanitary and phyto-sanitary controls for a fifth time, with these now being introduced in January 2024; notes that the UK Government could reduce barriers to trade with the EU by committing to voluntary alignment across key sectors; maintains its call that the EU and the UK should come to an agreement on mutual recognition of conformity assessments and regulatory equivalence for SPS measures;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Takes note of the fact that it is a logical consequence of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and, in particular, the ending of freedom of movement, that the opportunities in the EU for the UK’s largely service-based economy have been reduced; notes with regret that there has been a 50% decrease in EU citizens enrolling in UK universities between 2020 and 2022;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the announcement by the UK Government in November 2022 that the deadline for the implementation of the UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) marking for products placed on the market of Great Britain would be extended; welcomes the announcement of the UK Government recognise the EU's product safety symbol indefinitely in 18 areas;[1] [1] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using- the-ukca-marking
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Welcomes the signature of the EU- UK Memorandum of Understanding on Financial Services Cooperation in June 2023 and the establishment of the Joint EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum;calls on both sides to use this forum as a platform to facilitate structured regulatory cooperation;underlines that while over- reliance on the UK financial services market is not sustainable, the UK continues to be a global centre of finance and thus, increased cooperation is welcome; [1] [2] [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscor ner/detail/en/SPEECH_23_3549 [2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio ns/uk-eu-memorandum-of- understanding-on-financial-services- cooperation
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Welcomes the draft deal between the EU-UK on the UK’s re-entry into the EU’s Horizon Europe Programme; notes the importance of UK universities in leading global research; recalls that any agreement would be mutually beneficial to citizens and scientists on both sides; urges the UK Government to swiftly implement the draft deal;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes the amendment of the sunset clause in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill which was and remains a cause of concern, and stresses that the European Parliament will continue following the legislative developments in the UK in this regard; calls for the strengthening of EU-UK regulatory cooperation to minimise likely divergences; calls on the Commission to continue to closely monitor regulatory divergences in the UK, which could pose a risk of non-compliance with the TCA, notably in areas relevant to the level playing field such as subsidy control, taxation, labour and social standards, the environment and climate; considers, in this context, that the active involvement of the DAG and the Civil Society Forum provides a valuable contribution to the process; highlights the particular challenge that monitoring and managing regulatory divergence poses for Northern Ireland and the need to ensure adequate early warning mechanisms;
Amendment 73 #
27. Takes note that the new UK subsidy control regime under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 came into force in January 2023; calls on the Commission to closely monitor the application of the Subsidy Control Act 2022; calls for increased cooperation between the EU and the UK on subsidies, pursuant to Article 366 TCA;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Regrets that the TCA does not include provisions on cooperation in foreign policy and defence; recalls the EP's position that in the current geopolitical context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the signing of a structured framework for cooperation on foreign and security affairs between the European Union and the UK would be more effective than current ad hoc cooperation; highlights the need to intensify the dialogue with the UK on possible avenues for future cooperation and coordination on foreign, security and defence policy, in line with the provisions of the political declaration and including in the framework of the EU-NATO partnership, the United Nations, the European Political Community (EPC) and other international forums; underlines the importance of coordinating sanctions regimes;
Amendment 86 #
31. Calls for the stronger involvement of the UK in European security and defence projects; welcomes, in this context, the decision of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) members and the Council of 14 November 2022 to invite the UK to join the Military Mobility PESCO project, which would improve mutual rapid security and defence assistance; calls on the Member States to sign the administrative agreement on Military Mobility with the UK as soon as possible;