A new report from the Institute for Global Change
provides an analysis of the practical and structural
problems with the current post-Brexit arrangements and outlines a
path that should be taken to improve the Brexit deal.
This paper is a follow up to TBI’s recent polling of the
British public which showed that a substantial majority
of the public, including Leave voters, think that Brexit has had
a negative impact on their lives. Most of the public also think
the current relationship with the EU is functioning badly, while
over two-thirds are in favour of the UK forging closer ties with
the EU.
In ‘Fixing Brexit – A New Agenda for a New Partnership
with the EU’ TBI Senior Fellow Anton Spisak presents a
case for revisiting the post-Brexit agreement negotiated by the
Johnson government.
The paper sets out a new pragmatic approach to managing the
future relationship with the EU based on mutual trust and
strategic partnership. It proposes a three-step path to
improving the Brexit deal: restoring trust with the EU,
developing a new domestic Europe strategy and revisiting the
post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which is due for
review at the end of 2025.
The paper recommends concrete actions and solutions that the
government should take across the three areas, including:
- Negotiating a UK-wide agreement with the EU on food safety
regulations in order to fix problems with the Northern Ireland
Protocol
- Empowering UK ministers to align voluntarily with parts of
the EU single market for goods where it is in the UK interest to
do so
- Launching a business consultation to inform the UK
government’s negotiating approach to revisiting the Trade and
Cooperation Agreement
Anton Spisak, TBI Senior Fellow said:
“Most of the British public recognise that Brexit in its current
form isn’t working for anyone.
“What has now changed for the first time since leaving the EU is
that there is political space to discuss not only Brexit’s
consequences but what improvements are necessary to the future
relationship with the EU.
“Our report sets out a new policy agenda to fix Brexit’s ongoing
practical problems and find a new more balanced relationship with
the EU.
“With the country facing recession and the steepest decline in
living standards on record, the current government should take a
pragmatic approach to fixing Brexit. This is also critical to
providing certainty in Northern Ireland. Failing that, it will be
incumbent on the next government to pick up the pieces and
deliver tangible solutions to the problems arising from
Brexit.”
The proposals in full set out a three-step path to a better and
more strategic relationship with the EU.
The first task will be fixing the trust deficit in the
relationship with the EU and restoring mutual confidence. This
includes:
o Rapidly agreeing a package of
confidence-building measures with the EU
o Sorting out the Northern Ireland Protocol,
and
o Committing to high standards on food, labour,
environment through domestic legislation
The second task is to develop a clear and coherent domestic
Europe strategy – a new modus operandi for engaging with the EU
and its institutional system. This includes:
- Creating a domestic regulatory strategy to engage with the EU
and enable UK ministers to align on a voluntary basis, and
- Developing a new diplomatic strategy that treats the EU as a
strategic partner and ally.
As part of the final task, the government should revisit the
Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) using the review process
that is already part of it and which will automatically begin in
2025. This includes:
- Developing policy by launching a formal consultation for UK
business on post-Brexit arrangements.
- Deepening the existing arrangements to reduce trade barriers
in goods, services, mobility and digital trade.
- Developing a new security partnership to advance cooperation
on law enforcement, criminal justice and wider issues
- Building a new strategic pillar within the TCA to advance
cooperation in areas of shared interest.
This latest report is a follow-up to ‘Moving On: How the
British Public Views Brexit and What It Wants From the Future
Relationship With the European Union’.
NOTES TO
EDITORS
The Future of
Britain initiative seeks to reinvigorate progressive
politics to meet the challenges the country faces in the decades
ahead. Our experts and thought leaders are setting out a bold,
optimistic policy agenda across six pillars: Prosperity,
Transformative Technology, Net Zero, Community, Public Services
and Britain in the World.
The Institute for Global Change
supports political leaders and governments to build open,
inclusive and prosperous societies in a globalised world. We do
this by developing policy advice and solutions and directly
advising governments.
