Sittings · Document
DRAFT OPINION (2024/2108(INI)) 2025-04-29
On the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement’
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Sandro Gozi
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection submits the following to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on International Trade, as the committees responsible:
Amendment 1
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, bound by geographical proximity, shared values and strategic interests, 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; |
Or. en
Amendment 2
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| D. whereas the TCA covers areas such as trade, energy, fisheries, transport, judicial and law enforcement cooperation, and social security coordination, providing a comprehensive framework and ensuring a level playing field; | D. whereas the TCA covers areas such as trade, energy, fisheries, transport, judicial and law enforcement cooperation, and social security coordination, providing a comprehensive framework and ensuring a level playing field and fair competition; |
Or. en
Amendment 3
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| H. whereas the Windsor Framework, concluded in 2023, addresses the practical challenges that have arisen in the operation of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland over the first years of its implementation and creates legal certainty, therefore, paving the way for full implementation; whereas the Windsor Framework covers a wide range of areas, such as customs, agri-food, medicines, State aid, VAT and excise duties; | H. whereas the Windsor Framework, concluded in 2023, addresses the practical challenges that have arisen in the operation of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland over the first years of its implementation and creates legal certainty, therefore, paving the way for full implementation; whereas the Windsor Framework covers a wide range of areas related to democratic governance and trading rules, such as customs, agri-food, medicines, State aid, VAT and excise duties; |
Or. en
Amendment 4
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| I. whereas the conclusion of the Windsor Framework as well as the UK Prime Minister’s pledge to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with the EU in July 2024 opened a new chapter in relations between the EU and the UK; | I. whereas the conclusion of the Windsor Framework as well as the UK Prime Minister’s pledge to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with the EU in July 2024 opened a new and ambitious chapter in relations between the EU and the UK; |
Or. en
Amendment 5
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 in order to ensure lasting benefits as well as certainty, long-term stability, practical support 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; |
Or. en
Amendment 6
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12. Highlights the resumption of the EU-UK PPA in March 2025 after the 2024 European and UK elections; stresses its role in providing parliamentary oversight and scrutiny of the TCA implementation; calls on the Partnership Council to consider PPA recommendations; emphasises the importance of the continued participation of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales as observers; | 12. Highlights the resumption of the EU-UK PPA in March 2025 after the 2024 European and UK elections; stresses its role in providing parliamentary oversight and scrutiny of the TCA implementation; calls on the Partnership Council to consider PPA recommendations; emphasises the importance of the continued participation of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales as observers; highlights the importance of the recommendation of the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly of 17 March 2025 on strengthening the EU-UK partnership, which reaffirmed the centrality of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Windsor Framework and the TCA as the cornerstones of the relationship, emphasised the need for strengthened cooperation and set out clear priorities for enhancing the partnership; |
Or. en
Amendment 7
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 14. Recalls that the TCA provides a comprehensive and ambitious basis for the relationship between the parties, in particular for EU-UK trade, while ensuring a level playing field for fair competition and sustainable development; recalls that the TCA is the most unique free trade agreement in the history of the EU, as it focuses on limiting divergence rather than promoting convergence between trading partners; recalls that the TCA is also unique as it provides for zero tariffs and zero quotas for EU-UK trade; | 14. Recalls that the TCA provides a comprehensive and ambitious basis for the relationship between the parties, in particular for EU-UK trade, while ensuring a level playing field for fair competition and sustainable development; recalls that the TCA is the most unique free trade agreement in the history of the EU, as it focuses on limiting divergence rather than promoting convergence between trading partners; recalls that the TCA is also unique as it provides for zero tariffs and zero quotas for EU-UK trade; recalls the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly’s recommendation on strengthening the EU-UK partnership, adopted ahead of the 19 May 2025 EU-UK Summit, which underlines the importance of reducing trade barriers, enhancing cooperation, addressing regulatory divergences and promoting sustainable economic growth through closer ties, including in digital and green sectors; |
Or. en
Amendment 8
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 16a. Welcomes the UK´s plans to legislate for the indefinite recognition of the CE marking across additional product regulations, which would further ease compliance challenges for EU manufacturers and facilitate the export of products that require such marking from the UK to the EU; |
Or. en
Amendment 9
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 17. Reiterates that the EU and the UK should cooperate closely on the subject of customs, including by ensuring an effective exchange of information, constructive dialogue and effective methods of cooperation between customs administrations, with the aim of simplifying clearance processes in order to minimise administrative and financial costs for all stakeholders; | 17. Reiterates that the EU and the UK should cooperate closely on customs matters, including by ensuring an effective exchange of information and data, constructive dialogue and effective methods of cooperation between customs authorities, with the aim of simplifying clearance processes in order to minimise administrative and financial costs for stakeholders, in particular businesses and consumers; |
Or. en
Amendment 10
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 17a. Stresses that the implementation of the UK’s border target operating model, the new import regime, has been causing difficulties as a result of frequent changes in risk categorisation without proper notification, inconsistent interpretation of import requirements, waiting times in carrying out controls and failure to recognise the EU as a single sanitary and phytosanitary entity; is concerned that the UK´s responses have not yet fully addressed the related problems; |
Or. en
Amendment 11
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 18. Takes note that the UK Government could reduce barriers to trade with the EU by committing to voluntary and dynamic alignment across key sectors; welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to negotiate a comprehensive Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, as such an agreement would reduce the administrative and financial burdens on both sides and facilitate EU-UK agri-food trade, including trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; | 18. Takes note that the UK Government could reduce barriers to trade with the EU by committing to voluntary and dynamic alignment across key sectors; calls on the Commission to support this through incentives and enhanced cooperation with the UK; welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to negotiate a comprehensive Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, as such an agreement would reduce the administrative and financial burdens on both sides and facilitate EU-UK agri-food trade, including trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; |
Or. en
Amendment 12
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20. Takes note of the Commission’s assessment that the implementation of the TCA in the areas of services and investment, digital trade, intellectual property, public procurement and small and medium-sized enterprises has generally proceeded smoothly, with no major issues except for the question of the application of the UK’s sponsorship system for work visas to EU service providers; | 20. Takes note of the Commission’s assessment that the implementation of the TCA in the areas of services and investment, digital trade, intellectual property, public procurement and small and medium-sized enterprises has generally proceeded smoothly, with no major issues, except for the question of the application of the UK’s sponsorship system for work visas to EU service providers, which remains an obstacle; |
Or. en
Amendment 13
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20a. Stresses that a dedicated arrangement for professional services and enhanced mobility to unlock the full potential of the economic partnership are essential; welcomes the possible start of negotiations on an arrangement for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications for architects; believes that similar arrangements for other professional qualifications should be explored; |
Or. en
Amendment 14
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20b. Encourages close cooperation between the EU and the UK on various aspects of digital trade regulation; appreciates, therefore, the administrative arrangement on the supervision of risk assessment and mitigation efforts by providers of large online platforms, signed by the EU and the UK on 30 April 2024; believes that regulatory convergence on digital legislation should be promoted, in particular on online platforms and AI; calls for the establishment of an EU-UK artificial intelligence forum to promote structured dialogue, regulatory cooperation and joint initiatives in the field of AI, in order to foster innovation, ensure high standards for safety and ethics, and strengthen mutual competitiveness; |
Or. en
Amendment 15
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 24. [opinion-giving committees]; | 24. Welcomes the UK’s Procurement Act 2023, in particular the benefits it offers through greater standardisation and streamlining of procurement processes, and highlights the need to ensuring fair access to public procurement; urges the UK Government and calls on the Commission to improve market access for SMEs by reducing the bureaucratic burden and thus creating and incentivising economic opportunities; highlights, in this regard, the importance of reducing barriers to cross-border trade for SMEs and of supporting fair competition and economic opportunity in cross-border cooperation; |
Or. en
Amendment 16
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 24a. Calls also for the integration of sustainability criteria in public procurement; highlights that measures should be adopted to promote the participation of SMEs, including simplifying procedures, cutting red tape and ensuring the transparent publication of notices and criteria; notes that the EU and the UK should ensure reciprocal and non-discriminatory access to their respective public procurement markets; |
Or. en
Amendment 17
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 28. [opinion-giving committees]; | 28. Stresses that consumers in the EU and the UK face several risks stemming from unsafe and illicit products as well as manipulative selling techniques online; highlights in this regard the related challenges arising from e-commerce to which consumers are exposed; considers that closer cooperation and the exchange of important information between the EU’s and the UK’s consumer enforcement bodies are vital to tackling these challenges; |
Or. en
Amendment 18
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 28a. Stresses that EU-UK cooperation must uphold a high level of consumer protection; demands that EU-UK cooperation should commit the two parties to dialogue and information exchange in areas of shared concern, including product safety, digital consumer rights and unfair commercial practices; highlights that the EU and the UK must cooperate to prevent regulatory divergence that would negatively affect consumer confidence or cross-border trade; |
Or. en
ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The rapporteur for the opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.