1 December 2020 - Future UK-EU foreign policy and defence cooperation - Oral evidence

The session is a follow-up to the Committee’s meeting with experts on 22 September 2020 to examine post-Brexit UK foreign and defence cooperation.

At that session, the Committee heard that the UK had played a key role in many aspects of EU defence and security policy under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), including as a contributor to missions and operations undertaken by the EU across the world.

It also heard that, post-Brexit, noninstitutionalised cooperation with the EU was possible, for example through existing extra-European alliances such as NATO and the UN Security Council, and through third-country participation in CSDP missions and operations and Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). However, the UK would not be able to hold positions of command and control in CSDP missions and operations, and would have to be invited to participate in PESCO projects.

Topics likely to be covered in Tuesday’s session include:

• How will the UK exert influence on EU defence policy as a third country?
• Will the Government seek third country participation in CSDP missions and operations and/or in PESCO projects and if so, how?
• Will the Government seek to strengthen existing bilateral agreements with EU Member States for defence co-operation and forge new ones?
• How has Brexit inevitably influenced the forthcoming Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy?
• What effect might the election of Joe Biden have on the UK’s future defence and security landscape?

Further information

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