Fifth meeting of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly takes place in Brussels
18 March 2025
The UK delegation to the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) has this week attended the fifth meeting with their EU counterparts, at the European Parliament in Brussels. The meetings lasted from Monday 17 March until Tuesday 18 March.
The PPA is the Parliamentary Assembly of the UK-EU Partnership Council, the body that oversees the 2021 Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The PPA is composed of a delegation of Members of the UK Parliament and a delegation of Members of the European Parliament. The Assembly acts as a forum for parliamentarians to exchange views on the implementation and operation of the Agreement. Marsha de Cordova MP is Leader of the UK delegation and Co-Chair of the Assembly.
On Monday, the Assembly was addressed by Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Nick Thomas-Symonds MP (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations) who gave an update from the Partnership Council.
Representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) discussed the future of foreign and security policy cooperation.
Later that day, the Leader of the UK delegation, Marsha de Cordova MP, led a break-out session around climate and energy security, focussing on opportunities for collaboration within the context of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, as well as energy prices, renewables and connectivity.
On the final day of meetings, Tuesday (today), the Assembly discussed a range of issues including trade relations and opportunities for young people. Delegates also heard reports on the topics explored during Monday’s break-out sessions, including cooperation around artificial intelligence, energy and climate, and financial services.
Marsha de Cordova MP, Leader of the UK delegation and Co-Chair of the Assembly said:
"The UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly offers a unique channel through which to develop stronger, better links between EU and UK Parliamentarians.
"I'm delighted with the work we've started on a number of areas, reaching a widespread consensus on important areas including security, climate change, trade barriers and youth opportunities.
"The conversations we've had here in Brussels are a critical part of resetting relations between the UK and EU, working productively together for our mutual benefit in this critical global moment."
The Co-Chairs, Sandro Gozi MEP and Marsha de Cordova MP, released a joint statement:
“This was the first meeting of the PPA since last summer’s elections in the EU and the UK. Both delegations engaged fully to deepen and take forward a constructive relationship based on shared values, mutual trust and a whole host of issues of common interest.”
Read the full joint statement here.
The UK delegation will continue to engage with their EU counterparts, across a range of topics, and looks forward to welcoming them to London for the sixth meeting of the Assembly in the autumn.
You can find photographs from this week’s meeting here.