Overview
- The Commons Foreign Affairs Committee says the government's post-Brexit reset is "languishing" and suffering from a lack of direction, definition and drive.
- MPs call for a formal White Paper laying out the UK's vision for relations with the EU and for re-establishing a dedicated European Scrutiny Committee in the House of Commons.
- Downing Street rejects claims of secrecy, citing clear priorities to clinch a food and drink trade deal and a carbon market linking agreement by the next UK–EU summit, which it says could add £9 billion a year to the economy.
- Technical talks continue on youth mobility, sanitary and phytosanitary rules for agri-food trade, electricity interconnections and emissions trading links, with many files targeted for completion by the summer.
- Negotiations over UK participation in the EU’s €150bn Safe fund collapsed late last year, while critics warn of sovereignty risks and press for parliamentary votes on future EU agreements.