Future UK-EU Relations – the State of Play

At a joint summit in May 2025, the EU and UK agreed on a new Strategic Partnership for cooperation. This included a new Security and Defence Partnership to respond to the security threats facing Europe. They also agreed a Common Understanding on areas for further co-operation.

Since then, some agreements have been reached, including on Erasmus+, fishing, and energy cooperation. Negotiations have commenced on other areas, including on food safety and animal and plant health standards, and the linkage of emission trading systems (ETS), where it is hoped agreements might be reached in 2027.

However, in other areas, negotiations have been slower than hoped for by the parties. The involvement of the UK in the EU’s ‘SAFE’ scheme, aimed at funding a big boost in defence capacity, has been delayed so far by disagreements over financial contributions.

There are increasing calls for other, more extensive, closer UK-EU links, but these have not been backed by the UK government.

The issue of closer UK-EU relations will continue to be a major focus of politics throughout 2026, with another summit due later in the year.

This conference will look at the current state of play with those negotiations, what more agreements can be expected. The conference will also look at Scotland’s links with the EU, and what closer UK-EU links could mean for Scotland.

To discuss all these issues, we have a range of expert speakers:

• David Henig, Director of the UK Trade Policy Project at the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE);

• Alyn Smith, former SNP MEP & MP;

• Martin Johnson, Director, Scottish Government EU Directorate;

• Angela Mathis, Chief Executive, ThinkTank Maths

• William Bain, British Chambers of Commerce (to be confirmed)

• A UK government representative has also been invited

This event will be a great opportunity for an up-to-date briefing, and Q & A, on these issues, from top experts.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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