Update on UK-EU Relationship: week commencing 6 September 2021

The House of Commons and the House of Lords returned on Monday 6 September.

In the last week before recess Lord Frost appeared before the European Scrutiny Committee sharing his view on the impact of the NI Protocol on the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. He states that “if the workings of the protocol are undermining the […] agreement” then it “isn’t doing its job”. As promised in this session on 19 July by Lord Frost, the UK Government published its proposals for the way forward with the NI Protocol. The EU then also published two papers on ensuring the continued supply of medicines and another paper on animals and food.

The House of Lords European Affairs Committee published its report Citizens’ Rights for UK citizens resident in the EU and EU citizens living in the UK. The report examines the mechanisms, especially the EU Settlement Scheme, that were used by the UK and EU Member States to give effect to citizens’ rights provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement. Whilst welcoming the success in processing over 5.4 million applications so far, the report raises concerns about the status of vulnerable EU citizens in the UK.

The Welsh Affairs Committee published its report on Implications of the UK-Australia FTA for Wales on 4 August. Whilst the committee found that in the short-term it is unlikely to have a significant impact on Wales, it has found the longer-term risks are unknown.

Correspondence between the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and the Vice-President of the European Commission, relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol and ensuring legal clarity for people affected by EU laws that apply under the Protocol, has been published and can be found here and here.

Monday 6 September – The House of Lords Common Frameworks Scrutiny Committee has taken evidence on post-Brexit Common Frameworks.

Tuesday, 7 September – The Foreign Affairs Committee held a session as part of its inquire into tech and the future of UK foreign policy.  

Wednesday 8 September – The International Trade Committee has taken evidence on UK Trade Negotiations with Tim Smith, former Chair at Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) and Sir Henry Dimbleby, Chair at National Food Strategy (NFS),followed by questioning the Minister of State for Trade Policy at Department for International Trade, Rt Hon Greg Hands MP.

Key Dates for 2021:

• 30 September: New date for GB-NI trade in chilled meat products.
• 1 October: Ending of grace period before mandatory provision of food safety paperwork when moving agri-food goods between GB and NI.
• 1 October (but extendable to July 2022): Deadline for determining whether the UK meets the conditions for exchanging personal data under the Prüm framework.
• 1 October: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens will require a passport to travel to the UK, rather than national identity cards.
• 31 December: Deadline for first review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provisions on air transport with a view to further liberalisation of ownership and control of air carriers.
• 31 December: end of 12-month adaptation period for GB businesses to implement new EU regulation in relation to the flow of medicines to NI.