Ahead of the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit on 20th November, East Midlands Chamber is backing a set of desired outcomes outlined by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) to improve trade conditions and the need for a range of options for the UK’s future relationship with the EU to be fully explored, in consultation with business.
Future UK-EU Relationship
On the UK’s future relationship with the EU, East Midlands Chamber supports the British Chambers of Commerce in its call for publication of a comparative assessment of the structured long-term options for a closer UK-EU economic and trade relationship.
The BCC’s report – The Future of UK-EU Relations – Key Goals for the 2026 Leaders’ Summit – outlines nine options for the future EU relationship and calls for business to be fully consulted in the process.
Desired outcomes from the UK-EU Summit
Outcomes called for from the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit on 20th November include:
- SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) Agreement – to remove the vast majority of agri-food certificates, checks and ‘Not for EU’ labelling burdens in Britain and Northern Ireland
- ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme) linkage deal – link carbon markets between the EU and UK and exempt bilateral trade from CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) requirements in both directions, while protecting competitiveness of key economic sectors in regulatory choices made
- Made in Europe declaration – recognise the UK as a trusted partner in political commitments and count UK industrial content in pan-European supply chains
- Defence Co-operation and Procurement – deepen UK and EU defence and security co-operation and joint procurement opportunities, including future iterations of Security Action for Europe (SAFE) and the Ukraine loan
- Long-term relationship options explored – publish a comparative assessment of the structured long-term options for closer UK-EU economic and trade relationships and fully consult business in this process
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “20th November is an important milestone – the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit has the potential, if the outcomes called for by the British Chambers of Commerce are achieved, to bring significant improvements to trading conditions currently in place.
“For many businesses trading with the EU, the burden of increased paperwork and regulation has been challenging and that needs to be addressed. The processes involved in import and export need simplification.
“If we look at food, removing the burden to complete agri-food certificates through a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, known as SPS, would clearly be a step forward from where we are now, as would removing the need for ‘Not for EU’ labelling, not having to meet the complex requirements of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and its associated admin. There’s a pile of paperwork that firms trying to trade with the EU have to trawl through, adding to both time and cost.
“Looking at the longer term, the summit should set the foundations for renewed discussion around the wide range of approaches that could be considered on the UK’s future relationship with the EU. The British Chambers of Commerce are right to call for careful consideration of each of the nine options they have proposed and for that process to be in full consultation with business.”
View the full report – The Future of UK-EU Relations – Key Goals for the 2026 Leaders’ Summit – published by the British Chambers of Commerce here.
