MEPs and UK parliamentarians gather in Brussels to discuss the state of EU-UK relations, joint efforts to support Ukraine and sanctions policies. The EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly was set up following the entry into force of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) in January 2021. It acts as a forum for the European Parliament and the UK Parliament to exchange views on EU-UK relations. It can also request information from the Partnership Council - the main joint EU-UK body overseeing the implementation of the TCA - and make recommendations to it. After the meeting, Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR) co-chair of the EU-UK PPA and Sir Oliver HEALD give a joint press point. The transcription is the result of an automatic process, please check against delivery.

Brussels

EU - United Kingdom (T)

press point

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

LOISEAU, Nathalie (Renew, FR)

HEALD, Oliver

Press point by Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR) co-chair of the EU-UK PPA and Sir Oliver HEALD, on the third meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, So, good afternoon, all of you. I think it has been a very successful two day meeting of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in a very positive atmosphere. The participation of the British Foreign Secretary and Vice President, Maro&scaron; &Scaron;efčovič, was very welcome and shows the weight now attached to the work of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, In particular, I'm hopeful for progress on UK participation to Horizon Europe programme. I'm also hopeful, as the Chair of the Defence and Security Subcommittee, to UK's Participation in Military Mobility. I know it's important for you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, As regards UK or Horizon Europe programme, I think we all agree that scientists should not pay the price for Brexit and neither should our young people. And I would like to insist that we have to work to improve EU's mobility, particularly for school visits. We know that there are still obstacles and I hope we can overcome this obstacles.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, On the implementation of the TCA, we must continue to be mindful of our joint obligation, for example, regarding regulatory divergence. Because indeed, we are diverging and it was the very meaning of Brexit and the importance of level playing field.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, I am certain that we all care for high standards and actually high standards or a common commitment. We also have to pay attention to the European Convention on Human Rights because it is important for a police and judiciary cooperation as well as data protection. These are key elements that we have to keep in mind.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, This morning, the Assembly adopted a recommendation to the Partnership Council on Ukraine and on sanctions vis a vis Russia. Third countries circumvention of sanction is a serious concern that requires all of our attention. We must continue to apply economic pressure to the Russian regime to inhibit its ability to finance its illegal war on Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, We also must ramp up manufacturing of weapons and ammunition and make sure that they reach Ukraine, and the sooner, the faster, the better. We also have to work together on the use of frozen assets in different formats, including the G7. We do look forward to continuing as parliamentarians to find ways to reinforce our cooperation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, This is a common responsibility at a time where liberal democracies and values we share are under pressure globally. So I do think that our Parliamentary Partnership Assembly has proven its relevance even more than before.

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliver HEALD, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, Well, thank you, Natalie, and thank you for hosting us in Brussels. It's been a very good plenary, and I think what we're seeing is the building of trust between the UK and the EU. When I first came out to Brussels more than a year ago, it wasn't like this and it's good that we've been able to recognise through what's happened sadly in Ukraine that we are allies also, that by pressing for discussions over the winds, the framework and those actually leading to a result. I think that's been a big, big building block for us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliver HEALD, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, On energy cooperation as well, We've had many in the European Parliament who have been strongly supportive of energy cooperation. We have been pressing for it too, and that is now happening. So, I think there's a lot that we can take from this relationship and of course build on it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliver HEALD, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, And as you say, there are concerns about matters such as standards. But I think it was important that the Foreign Secretary made it clear yesterday that Britain is a country which stands for very good standards in all these areas and that, yes, we will want to look at retained the EU legislation and try to deregulate where we can.

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliver HEALD, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, But, that doesn't necessarily mean that we will be lowering standards. It may just mean that there are regulations or rules which don't apply to Britain, but they were agreed for 27 countries and don't really affect Britain or they may be minor matters or it may be that there is an advantage that can be gained from a deregulation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliver HEALD, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, But yes, there will be divergence. But as he made clear, there's not going to be a falling of standards. And Britain presents itself to the world as a high standards country. And most of our products, I would say, are in the top echelons of that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliver HEALD, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, Yes, we do have to be careful to understand each other in terms of what legislation we are bringing forward. And I think one of the things that this body can do is to spread an exchange, really, of information about what we are proposing.

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliver HEALD, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, Because quite often you will have lobbyists with particular viewpoints who will make out that a particular piece of legislation is going to have dramatic effects when in fact, at heart it's just an attempt to make some sensible deregulation or enable us to tackle some of the problems we have with migration across the English Channel.

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliver HEALD, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, But there's no question of the UK leaving the ECJ. It's something we helped to set up and which we're strongly supportive of. And I think the decision not to continue with the British Bill of Rights is probably welcome here, too. So, I'd like to thank you again for a very good interchange. Let's hope we can do more with mobility for young people. And thank you very much.

Q&A, Question regarding the Windsor framework and the level of implementation the UK has done so far. And another question about the Retained EU law bill.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, -

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliver HEALD, Co-chair of the EU-UK PPA, -

Q&A, Question regarding on cooperation between UK and EU countries at local and regional level.

Q&A, Question about the atmoshpere among both representatives of parliaments, EU and UK and another question about if Brexit is a success.

Q&A, Question on the UK's approach to the freezing of Russian assets due to the war in Ukraine.