Committee to hold first evidence session for new inquiry
At 4pm on Tuesday 12 September, the European Affairs Committee will begin taking oral evidence for the inquiry into the implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for UK-EU relations, by hearing from two former UK European Commissioners:
- The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Ashton of Upholland LG GCMG
- Sir Julian King KCVO CMG
Background
The House of Lords European Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into the implications for the UK of the EU’s foreign and security policy response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The inquiry will look beyond immediate crisis management towards the handling of longer-term issues. Its starting point is that the outbreak of a major conflict on the European continent in February 2022 has led to developments in the EU’s approach to external affairs which are likely to have important consequences for the UK-EU relationship in the future.
The inquiry will focus on the following themes:
- The EU’s overall foreign and security policy response.
- UK-EU cooperation on sanctions, including enforcement and effectiveness.
- The EU’s developing defence policy and approach to resilience.
- Future reconstruction of Ukraine.
- The EU’s wider positioning on foreign policy and future priorities, in particular the prospect of future EU enlargement.