Stephen Hammond is Chair of the Conservative European Forum, and served as Member of Parliament for Wimbledon from 2005 to 2024.
A week ago today, over 40 Heads of Government from across Europe descended on Blenheim Palace, the birthplace and ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill, for the fourth meeting of the European Political Community (EPC).
This summit was a significant test for our new Prime Minister; previous EPC meetings have been crucial in uniting Europe against vladimir Putin’s aggression, fostering cooperation on energy security, and tackling immigration crime.
Much remains unclear about how the Labour Government plans to manage our relationship with the European Union. The EPC provides an excellent opportunity for the United Kingdom and the European Union to strengthen foreign and defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The flexibility of the EPC format allows for progress on continent wide discussions, as well as bilateral meetings or group discussions among states. It is an opportunity that I hope the new Prime Minister seizes.
The geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically since the Trade and Cooperation Agreement was negotiated, with events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising threats from China. We need to be responsive to these changes and work towards a deeper foreign and defence policy partnership that will make both the UK and Europe safer and better-equipped to handle emerging threats.
The Windsor Framework Agreement, secured by Rishi Sunak, has paved the way for these new discussions to take place.
In an uncertain world, our foreign and defence cooperation with the European Union should be as strong, if not stronger, than the partnerships our NATO allies, including the United States, Canada, and Turkey, already maintain with the EU.
The UK-EU Political Declaration agreed by Boris Johnson in 2019, calls for “ambitious, close and lasting co-operation on external action” and sets out a shared desire to “establish structured consultation and regular thematic dialogues identifying areas and activities where close co-operation could contribute to the attainment of common objectives.” It needs to be fully implemented.
As a nuclear power, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and being geographically close to continental Europe, it is logical that the UK has a bespoke agreement with the EU that serves both our interests and our collective security. At the same time, we can draw inspiration from existing models that might work for us.
A ‘Canada-style’ Strategic Partnership Agreement offers an insight into what might be possible. It would establish an institutional framework, strengthen foreign policy, security, and defence, and facilitate a more dynamic and responsive UK-EU relationship. The Annual Leaders’ Summits, Foreign Ministers’ meetings, and regular high-level dialogues that it would create can resolve difficulties and inject momentum with new initiatives.
Summits are important for the anticipation they generate, which often propels decision-making and motivates officials and ministers to achieve consensus. The Canada-EU SPA has led to the EU-Canada Health Dialogue, the establishment of a Green Alliance, a digital partnership, coordinated actions in the Sahel, and many other initiatives.
While ad hoc exchanges often focus on current challenges, the extensive EU-Canada framework for political consultations enables the two sides to regularly review the relationship and chart the way ahead.
We can also look at the United States and the Trade and Technology Council it has formed with the European Union. It provides a platform to strengthen cooperation through structured dialogues and joint initiatives and operates through 10 specialised working groups. It has been an instrumental body in coordinating export controls and sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
For the UK, this framework could enable both sides to agree on measures to deepen cooperation, such as linking emissions trading schemes or forging new energy trading agreements. It should also be relatively straightforward to establish under the TCA using Article 770 on global cooperation.
Other steps can be taken to align the UK’s foreign and defence ties with the EU more closely with that of the United States and other allies. For example, entering into a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) with the European Union would enable the UK to participate in Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions on a case-by-case basis if we choose.
This could include Operation Atalanta – a naval initiative to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia- which we used to lead. Signing an Administrative Agreement with the European Defence Agency would open up possibilities for the UK to join Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects that offer mutual benefits.
It is in the national interest to ensure we are both better prepared to address the challenges of the 21st Century and better equipped to respond effectively with our European and NATO allies. As Conservatives, we advocate for international agreements that make our country safer and more secure.
It is also in the Party’s interest: a more pragmatic approach to our relationship with our European neighbours will help the Party win back 2015 and 2019 Conservative voters and win the trust of younger voters, who overwhelmingly favour a closer relationship with Europe.
I wish the Prime Minister well when he represents this country overseas. But as the Opposition, we have a duty to hold the Government to account and articulate a vision for a foreign and defence relationship with Europe that best serves our collective security.
