Resetting the UK-EU Relationship (European Affairs Committee Report)

Duke of Wellington Excerpts

Thursday 26th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[The Duke of Wellington (CB)]

My Lords, I pay tribute to the noble Lord, Lord Ricketts, who has chaired the European Affairs Committee for the past three years. He skilfully led us to a consensus on most occasions, and all members of the committee are grateful to him.

The Government were elected on a manifesto to reset this country’s relationship with the European Union, and I very much support that objective. Departure from the EU has affected the lives of so many people who wish to trade with, travel to, or work or study in the EU. There is no doubt that it is in the national interest to improve our relations with the European Union. I commend the work of Nick Thomas-Symonds in the Cabinet Office, who has responsibility in the Government. He has twice come to the committee with Stephen Doughty in the Foreign Office, thus demonstrating close co-operation between the two departments on this matter.

I will comment, in the very brief time allowed, on just two elements of the negotiations. The first is the need to reach a new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement. For food producers—farmers and fishermen—and for food processors, this is important and urgent. Fresh, perishable food cannot wait for 48 hours while checks and paperwork are completed. Food processors of non-perishable products can be held up in customs for weeks. Importers in the EU will, very understandably, eventually prefer to buy from elsewhere in the EU or from countries that are not subject to the same regulations as we are. It is disappointing that even the Minister does not expect a new SPS agreement to be operational until the second half of 2027. I simply urge the Minister to do everything possible to hasten this agreement, which is so important to the food and drinks industries.

The second element is the youth experience scheme. For young people to travel for study or work experience is beneficial both for the individual and for this country. This works both ways. The fact that so many foreigners who have gone on to become leaders in business, politics, academia or the military have spent part of their education or youth in this country contributes enormously to the soft power of the United Kingdom. I therefore congratulate the Government on having as an important policy objective the reset and improvement of our relations with the EU. They have already achieved a considerable change in approach in Brussels and a willingness there to negotiate. I am sure that they will have much public support to pursue this policy with vigour and imagination.