Sittings · Document
OPINION (2024/2108(INI)) 2025-06-27
On the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Idoia Mendia
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on International Trade, as the committees responsible:
Amendment 1
Proposal for a decision
Citation 18 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to Decision No 1/2023 of the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination established by Article 8(1)(p) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, of 10 March 2023 as regards the use of the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information for the transmission of data between institutions or liaison bodies1a, ________________ 1a OJ L 91, 29.3.2023, p. 89, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/698/oj. |
Amendment 2
Proposal for a decision
Citation 18 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to Decision No 2/2023 of the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination established by Article 8(1)(p) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, of 28 June 2023 as regards the designation of the financial institution to serve as reference to determine the interest rate for late payments and the exchange rate for currency conversions, as well as the date to be taken into consideration for determining the rates of currency conversion1a, __________________ 1a OJ L 179, 14.7.2023, p. 147, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/1460/oj. |
Amendment 3
Proposal for a decision
Citation 20 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the outcome document of the EU-UK summit of 19 May 2025, entitled ‘A renewed agenda for European Union – United Kingdom cooperation Common Understanding’, |
Amendment 4
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| A. whereas the EU and the UK, as part of the same continent and bound by shared values, are facing a serious volatile global security situation marked by rising geopolitical tensions; whereas they have demonstrated the political determination to work together and continue to be strong partners in addressing global challenges and security threats, most visibly in supporting Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s aggression; | A. whereas the EU and the UK, as part of the same continent and bound by shared values, are facing a serious volatile global security situation marked by rising geopolitical tensions; whereas they have demonstrated the political determination to work together and continue to be strong partners in addressing global challenges and security threats, most visibly in supporting Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s aggression; whereas closer EU-UK cooperation, based on the predictability and structure provided by the TCA, is more essential than ever to safeguard mutual interests and enhance resilience; |
Amendment 5
Proposal for a decision
Recital J
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| J. whereas the first EU-UK Summit, scheduled for 19 May 2025, is expected to provide an impetus for exploring opportunities to deepen the EU-UK partnership in a mutually beneficial manner, with security and defence likely to be a key area of focus; | deleted |
Amendment 6
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| K. whereas the importance of transparency in international trade and investment is to the benefit of all stakeholders and parties; whereas a predictable commercial environment that fosters trade and investment between the EU and the UK is welcome; | K. whereas the importance of transparency in international trade and investment is to the benefit of all stakeholders and parties; whereas a predictable commercial environment that fosters trade and investment between the EU and the UK, leading to growth and employment, is crucial; |
Amendment 7
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| N. whereas the UK applies its sponsorship system for work visas to EU service providers, and as a result, a UK employer wanting to employ an EU worker needs to be licenced by the UK Home Office and then assign a certificate of sponsorship to the EU worker, and pays fees for that worker to be able to apply for a visa (with additional fees); | N. whereas the UK applies its sponsorship system for work visas to EU service providers, and as a result, a UK employer wanting to employ an EU worker needs to be licenced by the UK Home Office and then assign a certificate of sponsorship to the EU worker, and pays fees for that worker to be able to apply for a visa (where the worker also incurs additional fees); |
Amendment 8
Proposal for a decision
Recital R a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ra. whereas the TCA provides for social security coordination to protect the social security rights of people moving between the EU and the UK after 1 January 2021; whereas it also provides for a level playing field to ensure fair competition by maintaining high levels of protection in a number of areas, including social and labour rights, with binding enforcement and dispute settlement mechanisms to ensure compliance; |
Amendment 9
Proposal for a decision
Recital R b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Rb. whereas the fundamental rights to organise, collectively bargain and take collective action are enshrined in international law and inherent to ensuring sustainable development and a level playing field, as set out in the TCA; |
Amendment 10
Motion for a resolution
Recital R c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Rc. whereas the UK’s Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 received royal assent on 29 June 2023; whereas this act revoked certain retained EU laws by the end of 2023 and removed the special status of all retained EU law in the UK’s legal order; whereas the act delegated significant powers to the UK authorities to revoke, amend or modify retained EU laws; |
Amendment 11
Proposal for a decision
Recital R d (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Rd. whereas the freedom of movement of workers constitutes a fundamental right in the EU; whereas the EU and the UK have a long-standing record when it comes to mobility of workers and vocational education and training students; whereas Erasmus+ has long been an important instrument in this regard; whereas the agreement between the EU and the UK to work towards the UK’s association with the Erasmus+ programme to expand educational, professional and cultural opportunities for youth is welcome; whereas enhancing the mobility of workers between the EU and the UK could help address labour shortages; whereas there is a need for a comprehensive EU-UK mobility agreement that ensures the protection of workers’ rights and the cross-border movement of workers; |
Amendment 12
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 7. Underlines the specific situation of Northern Ireland, due to its unique position with access to both the EU and UK internal markets, as a result of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, which was concluded in order to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement despite the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; calls for the full, timely and faithful implementation of all the elements of the Windsor Framework in order to ensure lasting benefits as well as certainty and predictability for businesses and people in Northern Ireland, protect the all-island economy, safeguard the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions, and ensure smooth trade and cooperation, as well as protecting the integrity of the single market and the Customs Union; recalls that the EU has reacted quickly to implement the Windsor Framework and now expects the UK to promptly fully and faithfully implement its part thereof; | 7. Underlines the specific situation of Northern Ireland, due to its unique position with access to both the EU and UK internal markets, as a result of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, which was concluded in order to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement despite the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; calls for the full, timely and faithful implementation of all the elements of the Windsor Framework, upholding the obligations enshrined in Article 2 thereof concerning the non-diminution of rights, safeguards and equality provisions, in order to ensure lasting benefits as well as certainty and predictability for businesses and people in Northern Ireland, protect the all-island economy, safeguard the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions, and ensure smooth trade and cooperation, as well as protecting the integrity of the single market and the Customs Union; recalls that the EU has reacted quickly to implement the Windsor Framework and now expects the UK to promptly fully and faithfully implement its part thereof; |
Amendment 13
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 7 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 7a. Highlights the importance of ensuring that there are no impediments or restrictions on the ability of individuals residing in Northern Ireland and Ireland to seek and take up employment across the border, in line with the principles of the Good Friday Agreement; stresses the importance of protecting cross-border workers in this context, including their social and labour rights; |
Amendment 14
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 13
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 13. Welcomes civil society engagement in TCA implementation; highlights the well-balanced representation in the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) and its valuable recommendations; calls on the Partnership Council to continue considering the diverse views of civil society; | 13. Welcomes civil society engagement in TCA implementation, including employers’ organisations and trade unions, as well as non-governmental organisations; highlights the well-balanced representation in the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) and its valuable recommendations; stresses the importance of the Civil Society Forum in this regard; calls on the Partnership Council to continue considering the diverse views of civil society; |
Amendment 15
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 20 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20a. Welcomes the commitment made at the EU-UK Summit of 19 May 2025, as reflected in the Common Understanding on a renewed agenda for EU – UK cooperation between the Commission and the United Kingdom, to launch structured dialogues on the entry and temporary stay of natural persons for business purposes and the mutual recognition of professional qualifications under the TCA; highlights the continuing barriers faced by EU and UK nationals in accessing regulated professions; stresses the need for clear, streamlined recognition procedures and the involvement of professional bodies and competent authorities on both sides; notes that, to date, only one recommendation for a possible mutual recognition arrangement under the TCA has been received, namely in relation to the architecture profession; calls on the Commission and the UK to accelerate the implementation of Article 158 of the TCA and prioritise additional sectors, such as healthcare, engineering, and legal and financial services; |
Amendment 16
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 20 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20b. Welcomes the declaration of intent, following the EU-UK summit, to work towards a balanced youth experience scheme with a view to facilitating the participation of young people from the EU and the UK in various activities, such as work, studies, au-pairing, volunteering, or simply travelling, for a limited period of time; encourages both parties to proceed swiftly and ambitiously with its design and implementation, ensuring reciprocal access, legal clarity and appropriate social protection for participants; stresses the need to ensure, where relevant, decent wages and working conditions for participants of any future youth experience scheme; |
Amendment 17
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 20 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20c. Welcomes, likewise, the EU-UK summit declaration of intent to work towards the UK’s association with the EU’s Erasmus+ programme; calls on the Commission and the UK to expedite negotiations in this regard; |
Amendment 18
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 21 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21a. Recalls that the TCA requires that the economic partnership between the two parties be underpinned by a level playing field for open and fair competition, and that trade and investment take place in a manner conductive to sustainable development, including economic and social development and environmental protection; recalls that the protection of workers’ rights is essential in this context, as set out in, inter alia, Articles 355, 386, 387, 399 and 524 of the TCA; notes that under Article 355 both parties undertake to maintain and improve their respective standards in the areas covered by Title XI; |
Amendment 19
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 21 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21b. Welcomes the proposals set out in the UK Government’s Employment Rights Bill 2024-2025 to expand collective bargaining rights, provide guaranteed hours for workers and repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023; welcomes, in this regard, the ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill, introduced by the devolved Northern Irish administration in Belfast, which fully upholds EU standards; |
Amendment 20
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 21 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21c. Notes that, with regard to the UK’s Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023, in their official reply to the Commission and in a series of technical meetings, the UK authorities informed the Commission that the objective of the act is not to lower the levels of protection in, among other areas, labour matters under the TCA; calls, however, on the Commission to closely monitor the act to ensure compliance, in view of the wide-ranging empowerment granted to the UK authorities to modify retained EU law and the role of its courts in interpreting retained EU legislation; |
Amendment 21
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 21 d (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21d. Notes that in October 2024 the UK Government announced its intention to establish a new Fair Work Agency within the Department for Business and Trade, to replace existing state enforcement bodies for labour protection; |
Amendment 22
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 21 e (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21e. Calls on the Commission and the PPA to closely monitor non-regression in labour standards and other developments in workers’ rights in the UK, and to continue its efforts with the UK Government to ensure full compliance with the TCA; calls on the Commission to use all available means to address any concerns that could necessitate the application of Chapter 6 of Title XI of the TCA, including through dialogue in the PPA and the Specialised Committees, consultation with the EU Domestic Advisory Group and, where necessary, the dispute settlement mechanisms provided for under Article 389; |
Amendment 23
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 21 f (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21f. Calls for the EU and the UK to explore avenues for further cooperation and exchange of best practices in the areas of employment and social protection; recognises the potential for mutual collaboration to improve the implementation and enforcement of employment policies, ensuring fair competition, sustainable growth for companies and fair working conditions for workers in both the EU and the UK; recalls that social partners play a genuine role in both monitoring and enforcing the TCA, including the power to submit official complaints; |
Amendment 24
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 21 g (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21g. Welcomes the political agreement reached in June 2025 between the EU and the UK on the key aspects of a future EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar, with the aim of removing all physical barriers, checks and screening for persons and goods between Spain and Gibraltar, while preserving the Schengen area, the EU internal market and the customs union; welcomes, in particular, the intention to ensure a level playing field in the area of labour; |
Amendment 25
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 22a. Welcomes the EU and the UK’s ongoing cooperation within the ILO, in particular on the development of a new instrument aimed at regulating platform work; |
Amendment 26
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 29a. Recalls the importance of maintaining high environmental and labour standards in energy projects; highlights the need for regulatory cooperation to ensure that energy initiatives promote upward convergence in workers’ rights, health and safety, and environmental protection; |
Amendment 27
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 32 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 32a. Welcomes the Commission’s assessment that EU-UK cooperation in the area of social security coordination has been constructive, with no systemic or structural issues identified in 2023 or 2024, and with both parties committed to solving any issues that may emerge in the implementation of the Protocol on Social Security Coordination to the TCA (‘Protocol’); notes that the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination adopted two decisions in relation to detached workers and self-employed persons and clarifying certain financial aspects; stresses the importance of a dynamic Protocol, which aligns with the revisions of the Social Security Coordination provisions; calls for continued efforts to simplify procedures, ensure consistent interpretation across the Member States and the UK, and enhance access to social security for citizens through improved guidance, digital tools and administrative cooperation; |
Amendment 28
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 32 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 32b. Notes that the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination carried out technical work on topics such as changes to structured electronic documents and portable documents, procedures for reimbursing the cost of sickness benefits, and the transposition of relevant decisions of the EU’s Administrative Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems; calls on the Committee to intensify its efforts and deliver tangible progress on improving procedures, ensuring uniform interpretation across the Member States and the UK, and improving the coordination of social security rights for mobile and cross-border workers; |
Amendment 29
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 32c. underlines the importance of ensuring decent, fair and safe working conditions for seasonal workers, particularly in essential sectors such as agriculture, tourism and construction; calls on the Commission to promote, within the context of the implementation of the EU-UK TCA, the establishment of a specific mechanism for the mobility of seasonal workers, including common standards on duration of employment, access to social security and protection against exploitation, with safeguards comparable to those laid down in Directive 2014/36/EU1a; _______________ 1a Directive 2014/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the conditions of entry and stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 375, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/36/oj). |
Amendment 30
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 d (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 32d. calls on the Commission to assess the feasibility of establishing a single EU-UK contact point for reporting violations of workers’ rights, barriers to accessing social benefits, or issues related to the recognition of cross-border employment contracts; |
Amendment 31
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 e (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 32e. Takes note of the importance and value of the EU social model and calls on the UK Government to extend the non-regression clause to the entire EU social acquis; |
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:
| Entity and/or person |
| European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) |
| IndustriAll European Trade Union |
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
| Date adopted | 25.6.2025 | |
| Result of final vote | +: –: 0: | 48 7 1 |
| Members present for the final vote | Maravillas Abadía Jover, Grégory Allione, Marc Angel, Pascal Arimont, Konstantinos Arvanitis, Nikola Bartůšek, Gabriele Bischoff, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Rachel Blom, Andrzej Buła, David Casa, Estelle Ceulemans, Leila Chaibi, Per Clausen, Henrik Dahl, Johan Danielsson, Marie Dauchy, Mélanie Disdier, Elena Donazzan, Gheorghe Falcă, Chiara Gemma, Niels Geuking, Isilda Gomes, Alicia Homs Ginel, Sérgio Humberto, Katrin Langensiepen, Miriam Lexmann, Marit Maij, Marlena Maląg, Jagna Marczułajtis-Walczak, Maria Ohisalo, Branislav Ondruš, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Nicola Procaccini, Dennis Radtke, Nela Riehl, Liesbet Sommen, Villy Søvndal, Pál Szekeres, Georgiana Teodorescu, Jana Toom, Raffaele Topo, Francesco Torselli, Brigitte van den Berg, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Marianne Vind, Petar Volgin, Jan-Peter Warnke, Séverine Werbrouck | |
| Substitutes present for the final vote | Regina Doherty, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Kathleen Funchion, Rudi Kennes, Hristo Petrov | |
| Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote | Mireia Borrás Pabón, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral |