The Government has not yet decided what level of access to EU
foreign, security and defence policy decision-making it aims to
secure for the UK, or what framework it would like to put in
place to facilitate co-operation after Brexit.
In ‘The Future of UK Diplomacy in
Europe’, published today, the Foreign Affairs Committee
calls on the Government to clarify its preferred outcome and work
towards the goal of securing automatic and institutionalised
collaboration that respects the decision-making autonomy of both
the UK and the EU. The overall goals and the specific priorities
of UK foreign policy in Europe after Brexit should be spelled
out, says the Committee.
It will always be in the UK’s interests to co-operate with the EU
and its Member States on foreign policy, defence and security;
working together to protect and project our shared values of
democracy, human rights and the rule of law and to underpin the
international rules-based order, says the Report.
The UK is one of Europe’s leading actors on foreign policy. But
at a time when the UK needs to find alternative ways of
influencing the EU and its Member States, the FCO’s role in the
Brexit process and beyond is unclear. Nor is it clear that the
FCO has the resources to cope with delivering the message that
the UK is leaving the EU, but not leaving Europe.
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, MP said:
“Britain’s future will be decided by our foreign
policy. We’ve succeeded as a networked, trading nation and
for this to continue our partnership with others will matter.
That includes working with the EU on foreign affairs, security
and defence but so far these areas of the Brexit negotiations
have received little attention. The Committee has questioned
ministers and officials but the Government appears not to have
decided on its objectives yet.
“The Committee argues that it is important we get clarity soon so
that the FCO can set out its vision for UK foreign policy in
Europe and around the world. We must also invest more in
our thinly-stretched European network without stripping resources
from our global outreach.
“As the recent summit meeting between the Prime Minister and
President Macron reminded us, the UK’s bilateral relations with
our nearest and closest allies in Europe are important.
They will also set the tone for our relations with
countries around the world and be vital to ensuring the success
of ‘Global Britain’. The UK must urgently define its aims for the
future relationship so that we are ready to engage with the world
as one of Europe’s leading foreign policy actors.”
