The first meeting of EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly is scheduled for 12-13 May 2022, in Brussels. This is the first time that representatives from both parliaments will meet in this new body. The EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly was set up following the entry into force of the new Trade and Cooperation Agreement in January 2021. It acts as a forum for the European Parliament and the UK Parliament to exchange views on EU-UK relations. Press conference with the Chairs of the European Parliament’s and the UK Parliament’s delegations to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, FR) and Sir Oliver Heald.

Press conference by Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), and Sir Oliver HEALD, EP and UK Chairs of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly following the 1st meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

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SOUNDBITE (English), Sir Oliver HEALD, UK Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, Well, can I can I thank you for welcoming us to this historic occasion. It's good to talk. And for some years now, we haven't had the opportunity as parliamentarians of Westminster and the European Parliament to do that. And I think it's long overdue. I'd like to thank you for all the very hard work that you and your team and the team here at the European Parliament have put in to get to the point where we can have this first meeting. We have a very lively delegation from the United Kingdom looking forward to making many contributions. And I know the same is true of the members of the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sir Oliver HEALD, UK Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, In fact, when I was here a month ago, it was a very warm welcome. And I think we felt there was a lot to talk about. Obviously, we are doing this as parliamentarians and I think many of us are hoping that our governments will talk a lot, too, and hopefully overcome their their disagreements. But anyway, it's marvellous to be here. Thank you so much for inviting us and for hosting the first plenary.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), EP Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, Oh, well, my turn. Well, I'm really delighted that finally this parliamentary partnership assembly starts. And I think that indeed this dialogue between parliamentarians is necessary and may be long overdue. We want to have constructive relations with the United Kingdom. The Russian invasion of Ukraine shows that we are strongly working together against common threats to our values and our democracies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), EP Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, The Parliamentary Partnership Assembly is a chance to bring, I would say, human dimension and refresh EU UK relations as it opens up a much needed parliamentary dimension in our relationship. The post Brexit partnership has too often been driven by media briefings and institutional press releases. This new avenue of dialogue offers the opportunity, I would say, to to blow away the Brexit cobwebs and bring our parliaments closer together in respect and cooperation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), EP Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, The PPA also has an institutional function to scrutinise the Partnership Council and provide recommendations to its work. Citizens and businesses on both sides of the channel needs certainty and a forum through which to raise their concerns about the post Brexit agreements and their implementation. As democratically elected representatives, we are uniquely placed to raise concerns and seek solutions. We owe it to our citizens and our businesses because the consequences of Brexit affect many of them.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), EP Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, The agenda for meeting provides an insight into the many areas where joint cooperation is in the interests of our citizens, whether on energy or Ukraine. On energy, there is much we can do to cooperate to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel imports from third countries who would use our dependencies against us. At the same time, cooperation on renewable energy in the North Sea and elsewhere can help us to tackle climate change, a shared objective.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), EP Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, On Ukraine and indeed in all of theatres globally, EU-UK coordination on sanctions, aid, defence and security matters is imperative here and in other areas. The PPA could provide a platform to discuss more enhanced and structured cooperation, while of course respecting the sovereign rights of both parties.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), EP Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, And I will talk about Northern Ireland and the protocol because it's again in the news and I'm sure that you have questions. So I might pre-empt your questions and provide my answers. Faced with the common external threats I described, it is more important than ever that EU allies and partners abide by agreements. And international law now is not the time to create divisions to create artificial crises. These divisions and crises would be welcomed by those in third countries who are hostile to our values and our democracies, only to find common solutions and dialogue will work.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), EP Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, The protocol on Ireland or Northern Ireland or the withdrawal agreement is an integral part of our relationship. It is the solution found with the current UK government in order to protect the 1998 Belfast Agreement in all its dimensions and therefore avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, while protecting the integrity of the EU single market. What people need the most is engagement, constructive spirit, stability and predictability. We remain united that there can be no unilateral decision. There cannot be a renegotiation on something that we negotiated together, agreed together that our European Parliament gave consent to. But of course, we remain open to discourse and solutions about how to ensure it is implemented effectively.

SOUNDBITE (English), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), EP Chair of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, I would like to express my strong support to the intensive efforts deployed by Maros Sefcovic of it in order to address practical issues in a very pragmatic and open manner. I sincerily hope that flexibility, pragmatism and engagement is shown on the other side too. We are open to your questions. Thank you very much.

Press conference by Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), and Sir Oliver HEALD, EP and UK Chairs of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly following the 1st meeting of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly

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