Sittings · Document
OPINION (2024/2108(INI)) 2025-07-16
On the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · Rapporteur: Loránt Vincze
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs 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
Paragraph 36
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36. [opinion-giving committees]; | 36. Welcomes the UK Government’s decision to reset its relationship with the EU and expresses its satisfaction at the fact that citizens’ safety remains pivotal under this new approach; reiterates the importance of the continued full implementation of existing UK-EU agreements, including the Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Framework; welcomes the boost provided by the Joint Statement and Common Understanding on a renewed agenda for EU-UK cooperation, adopted by the UK and the Commission at the first EU-UK summit on 19 May 2025, in terms of enhanced law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, strengthened cooperation in relation to drugs risks and threats, and deepened cooperation on challenges posed by irregular migration; |
Amendment 2
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36a. Welcomes the mutual commitment to uphold international law and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) expressed by the UK Prime Minister and the President of the Commission in their joint statement of 2 October 2024 on enhancing strategic cooperation and in the Joint Statement of the EU-UK summit of 19 May 2025; recalls that the general conditions for the application of Part Three, as stipulated under Article 524(1) of the TCA, are long-standing respect for democracy, the rule of law and the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, including those set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ECHR, as well as the importance of giving effect to the rights and freedoms secured in the ECHR domestically; reiterates that these conditions must be fully guaranteed for the TCA to be applied and implemented; |
Amendment 3
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36b. Welcomes the commitments, set out in the Joint Statement and Common Understanding, to work together more closely in fighting human trafficking and people smuggling, drug trafficking, serious and transnational organised crime, and terrorism and violent extremism, including the online dimension thereof, by implementing Part Three of the TCA more quickly, more effectively and more deeply and by fully exploiting and building on its potential; |
Amendment 4
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36c. Welcomes the conclusion of the 2024 Commission implementation report that the TCA’s implementation in relation to law enforcement and judicial cooperation functioned smoothly over the past year; |
Amendment 5
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36d. Welcomes, in particular, the fact that, by the end of 2024, all Member States and the UK had granted each other access to their national DNA databases for automated searching, in line with Article 530 of the TCA; welcomes the fact that, by the end of 2024, the UK had made 22 fingerprint connections and was ready to finalise the remaining 5; acknowledges the ambition, set out in the Common Understanding, for the parties to strengthen mutual and reciprocal exchanges of data on fingerprints, DNA, and criminal records of third-country nationals and to explore extending the exchange of data to facial images for the prevention, detection and investigation of criminal offences, while underlining that existing and extended exchanges depend on maintaining a high standard of data protection and ensuring that the UK’s evolving legal framework remains compatible with EU data protection requirements; |
Amendment 6
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 e (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36e. Recalls the mutual benefit of and need for strong law enforcement and judicial cooperation to tackle shared challenges in areas such as counterterrorism operations, money laundering and human smuggling and trafficking; welcomes the UK’s close cooperation with key EU agencies such as Europol, Eurojust and Frontex; |
Amendment 7
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 f (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36f. Welcomes the fact that the UK Government has increased the presence of the UK National Crime Agency at Europol and that it is working, in a broader sense, towards a closer relationship with Europol, including on the ability to share data in real time; |
Amendment 8
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 g (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36g. Takes note of the 2023 and 2024 Eurojust annual reports and expresses its satisfaction as regards the UK’s participation and involvement in the agency’s work, with the UK being the non-EU country most frequently asked to participate in new cases opened by national desks at the agency in both years; |
Amendment 9
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 h (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36h. Welcomes the conclusion of a working arrangement between Frontex and the UK’s Home Office in 2024 on the basis of the joint commitment to enhance safety and security while upholding fundamental rights obligations; trusts that this arrangement will enhance cooperation on border management and security, including the deployment of staff for advisory and coordination duties; |
Amendment 10
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 i (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36i. Encourages closer cooperation between the European Migration Network and agencies, including the European Union Agency for Asylum and Frontex, and the respective United Kingdom authorities, in line with the commitment made by the parties in the Common Understanding; encourages the conclusion of a working arrangement on the reciprocal exchange of information between the European Union Drugs Agency and the relevant United Kingdom authorities on drugs risks and threats, in order to facilitate the agency’s work; |
Amendment 11
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 j (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36j. Notes the shared challenges that the UK and the EU face in terms of illegal migration; expresses its strong support for the parties’ engagement in cooperating more closely in multilateral forums and processes to counter migrant smuggling and human trafficking, in sharing operational information on returns to third countries, and in exploring deterrence mechanisms, in line with national, EU and international law, while maintaining their commitment to guaranteeing international protection for those who need it; |
Amendment 12
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 k (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36k. Notes that the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, introduced in the UK Parliament on 30 January 2025, provides for the possibility to conclude agreements with G7 countries and key European partners to counter smuggling; welcomes the UK’s desire to work more closely with individual Member States, including France and the Calais Group, on fighting people smuggling and human trafficking, and, more broadly, on strengthening border security, including border surveillance; |
Amendment 13
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 l (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36l. Recalls that the extradition system between the Member States and the UK, as laid down in Title VII of Part Three of the TCA, differs from the one provided for by the Council Framework Decision on the European arrest warrant1a; recalls that in its recent judgment1b, the Court of Justice of the European Union held that the executing judicial authority must undertake an independent examination of the risk of a breach of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which the person concerned claims to run if they are surrendered to the United Kingdom; | |
| __________________ | |
| 1a Council Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA of 13 June 2022 on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States (OJ L 190, 18.7.2002, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_framw/2002/584/oj). | |
| 1b Judgment of the Court of 29 July 2024, Alchaster, C-202/24, ECLI:EU:C:2024:649. |
Amendment 14
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 m (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36m. Recalls that Part Three of the TCA allows for extended data flows between the EU and the UK, such as the exchange of DNA data, passenger name record data and criminal record information; underlines, therefore, that it is of the utmost importance that the UK ensures that the level of protection is essentially equivalent to that afforded by the EU in order to avoid putting EU standards, and therefore EU citizens’ fundamental rights, at risk when data is shared with the UK; |
Amendment 15
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 n (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36n. Notes the ongoing reform of the UK’s data protection framework through the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which introduces a range of substantive changes to existing provisions of the UK General Data Protection Regulation; underlines the importance of ensuring that this reform does not lead to a weakening of protections for individuals whose personal data is processed in the UK, particularly where data originates from the EU; notes that the Commission has proposed adopting a six-month extension of the two 2021 adequacy decisions with the UK; notes that this extension would guarantee the free flow of data with the UK until 27 December 2025, which would allow time for the legislative process on the Data (Use and Access) Bill, introduced in the UK Parliament on 23 October 2024, to conclude in the UK, and for the Commission to assess the adopted legislation and decide on its adequacy; |
Amendment 16
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 o (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36o. Stresses, in this regard, that the continued existence of the EU-UK adequacy decisions is essential for safeguarding cross-border data flows and ensuring that EU citizens’ fundamental rights continue to be respected under the TCA; notes that the renewal of these decisions will depend largely on the final content and implementation of the UK’s new legal framework; |
Amendment 17
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 p (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36p. Takes note of European Data Protection Board (EDPB) Opinion 06/2025, which supports a technical and time-limited extension of the UK adequacy decisions until 27 December 2025, solely to allow the Commission time to assess the implications of the reform once it is adopted; recalls that the Commission is required to monitor all relevant developments in the UK during this period and to ensure that any future adequacy decision is based on a comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of the UK’s data protection framework; |
Amendment 18
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 q (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36q. Underlines the value of continued EU-UK dialogue on artificial intelligence (AI) governance to promote shared principles and avoid regulatory fragmentation; calls on the Commission and the UK Government to explore avenues for structured AI cooperation and participation in setting standards, and to look into mutual recognition arrangements for conformity assessment; |
Amendment 19
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 r (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36r. Regrets the absence of a dedicated commitment to AI cooperation in the Common Understanding on a renewed agenda for EU-UK relations, despite the strategic importance of fostering transnational alignment on the development of trustworthy AI, and recalls that Article 39 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act)1a allows for the recognition of conformity assessment bodies established in third countries under specific conditions and subject to an agreement between the EU and the third country concerned; ______________ 1a Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act) (OJ L, 2024/1689, 12.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj). |
Amendment 20
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 s (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36s. Notes that Articles 103-107 and 109 of the AI Act amend existing EU product legislation that applies in Northern Ireland under Annex 2 to the Windsor Framework; takes note of the Commission’s proposal of 24 March 2025 to include certain provisions of the AI Act in Annex 2 to the Windsor Framework, with the aim of ensuring consistency in the regulation of goods and associated services in Northern Ireland; acknowledges that greater regulatory alignment in areas such as product safety and market surveillance may help to support legal clarity and market continuity; encourages continued dialogue between the EU and the UK within the framework of the Joint Committee, with a view to identifying mutually acceptable approaches that uphold high standards of consumer protection and regulatory coherence; |
Amendment 21
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 t (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36t. Recalls the need to fully respect the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, as stated in the Withdrawal Agreement; recalls the UK’s binding commitment, under Article 2 of the Windsor Framework, to ensure no diminution of rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement; underlines that the effective protection of these rights is also essential to maintaining trust and cooperation under the TCA, particularly in areas such as law enforcement, labour rights and access to justice; calls on the Commission to continue monitoring compliance with this obligation and to engage with the relevant UK authorities where risks of rights regression emerge; recalls that any amendments to the six EU equality directives listed in Annex 1 to the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement must be reflected in Northern Irish law to ensure non-diminution of rights; calls for further efforts to enhance the democratic representation of birthright EU citizens living in Northern Ireland; |
Amendment 22
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 u (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36u. Calls on the UK and the Member States to ensure that citizens’ rights remain a key joint priority in EU-UK relations, guaranteeing that all EU and UK citizens, for whose benefit the Withdrawal Agreement was concluded, can fully enjoy their rights; notes with satisfaction the renewal of the EU’s and the UK’s shared commitment to the full, timely and faithful implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement in all its parts; welcomes the legislative step taken by the UK Government relating to legal clarity for EU citizens with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and trusts that it will ensure a smooth transition for citizens from temporary to permanent residence over the next two years; points out that the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements identified data-sharing between the EU and the UK as an area that can cause delays in EU Settlement Scheme applications, where Member States possess information relevant to the application; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member State authorities to increase their responsiveness to requests and guarantee a better exchange of information between the UK and the countries of the EU, the European Economic Area and the European Free Trade Association to prevent delays and ensure a smooth application process for citizens; |
Amendment 23
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 v (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36v. Welcomes the shared commitment expressed in the Common Understanding as regards the establishment of a youth experience scheme; considers that the parties should be ambitious in developing the details of the scheme in terms of the scope, duration of stay and activities covered; strongly encourages the UK, in this context, to show openness towards the proposals presented by the Commission in this area in 2024; strongly believes that an agreement on youth mobility must be an essential component of any future revision of the TCA; |
Amendment 24
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 w (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36w. Considers that such a scheme has significant potential to inspire a new generation of young Europeans and Britons by fostering lawful, people-to-people exchanges rooted in shared democratic values, cultural understanding and mutual trust, and that it could lay the foundation for long-term cooperation, social cohesion, and stronger transnational networks among youth; further encourages both sides to consider facilitating mobility between the UK and the EU even beyond the proposed youth experience scheme; |
Amendment 25
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 x (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 36x. Stresses the potential mutual benefit of enhanced reciprocal short-term business mobility arrangements; agrees with the Commission that the UK’s sponsorship system for the granting of work visas to EU service providers is too cumbersome and onerous for both UK employers and EU beneficiaries of visas and calls on the UK to exempt service providers covered by the TCA from the sponsorship system; calls on the UK to continue to take all measures necessary to combat discrimination against EU citizens living in the UK; |
ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he included in his opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register1, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
| 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register |
| 2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies |
| UK Mission to the European Union |
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion.
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he 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 | 24.6.2025 |
| Result of final vote | + : 61 - : 0 0 : 12 |
| Members present for the final vote | Magdalena Adamowicz, Abir Al-Sahlani, Giuseppe Antoci, Francisco Assis, Malik Azmani, Nikola Bartůšek, Saskia Bricmont, Krzysztof Brejza, Jaroslav Bžoch, Mélissa Camara, Susanna Ceccardi, Caterina Chinnici, Alessandro Ciriani, Lena Düpont, Marieke Ehlers, Estrella Galán, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Evin Incir, Paolo Inselvini, Irena Joveva, Erik Kaliňák, Marina Kaljurand, Mariusz Kamiński, Assita Kanko, Fabienne Keller, Moritz Körner, Murielle Laurent, Fabrice Leggeri, Jeroen Lenaers, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Michael McNamara, Ana Catarina Mendes, Verena Mertens, Nadine Morano, Matjaž Nemec, Ana Miguel Pedro, Chloé Ridel, Ilaria Salis Birgit Sippel, Krzysztof Śmiszek, Sander Smit, Petra Steger, Cecilia Strada, Tineke Strik, Georgiana Teodorescu, Tomas Tobé, Milan Uhrík, Tom Vandendriessche, Kristian Vigenin, Charlie Weimers, Sophie Wilmès, Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, Alessandro Zan, Javier Zarzalejos. |
| Substitutes present for the final vote | Konstantinos Arvanitis, Fredis Beleris, David Casa, Laurent Castillo, Geadis Geadi, Monika Hohlmeier, Nikola Minchev, Hannah Neumann, João Oliveira, Leoluca Orlando, Oliver Schenk, Alexander Sell, António Tânger Corrêa, Pekka Toveri, Roberto Vannacci. |
| Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote | Christian Doleschal, Pietro Fiocchi, Pär Holmgren, Andrey Kovatchev, Andrea Wechsler. |