New proposals to fix the EU and UK’s relationship – including easier travel

Business trade group, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has published a new report detailing how the EU and the UK can repair relations post-Brexit.

The CBI, which represents some 190,000 businesses, said that the report and was formulated based on consultation with over 400 members across the UK. A series of proposals were then formed with the government’s growth mission and its manifesto red lines front of mind.

“Amid mounting geopolitical uncertainty, a strong and united Europe is more important than ever. There is no doubt the region’s collective strength lies in our ability to collaborate, adapt and support each other during unprecedented times,” said Rain Newton-Smith (CEO of the CBI).

“The challenges we encounter – from rising protectionism to new security threats – require us to cooperate across borders, be clear on our shared values, and stand up for free and fair trade and the importance of multilateralism.”

Some of the key proposals are outlined in more detail below.

Easier business travel and visa applications

Within the remit of the TCA, both governments should seek to expand the list of permitted activities for short-term business visitors to better enable professionals to move across borders. Mobility provisions for Intra-Company Transfers within the TCA should also be improved to facilitate smoother movement of key personnel between jurisdictions.

Beyond the TCA, visa processes should be streamlined by simplifying and expediting visa applications for short-term business travellers, supported by increased resources to relevant Home Office departments.

Qualifications recognition

With the UK no longer a member of the EU’s Directive on mutual recognition, regulated service professionals in both jurisdictions have lost the ability to seamlessly practice across borders.

The government should collaborate with the EU to establish clear paths to mutual recognition for the competitiveness of regulated professions, enabling both economies to benefit from increased movement of skilled labour.

Youth schemes

Through the UK’s new Free Trade Agreements, the UK has already agreed a network of reciprocal Youth Mobility Schemes with countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Japan.

Agreeing reciprocal youth participation schemes with the EU will not only facilitate the movement of EU citizens to the UK but will ensure young people across the UK have employment opportunities on the continent.

Working together on emerging technologies

Businesses and research institutions see clear opportunities for collaboration on emerging technologies, from artificial intelligence to biotechnology.

UK and EU researchers and innovators strongly value the UK’s association to Horizon Europe, which is accelerating innovation across Europe. Building on this foundation, regulatory cooperation will help both regimes develop coherent, forward-looking approaches.

As part of this cooperation, government should seek mutual recognition of conformity assessments in key sectors to avoid duplicative testing requirements and reduce costs for firms operating across both markets.

Critically, the UK should only introduce regulations that increase regulatory divergence between the UK and the EU where the competitive benefits of doing so are clear and burdens on cross-border businesses can be minimised.

Joint defence initiatives

Mounting geopolitical tensions, numerous economic crises, and conflict both near and far have cast a dark shadow over the stable, rules-based order of the world. Now more than ever, it is critical that the UK works closely with like-minded partners to secure peace, democracy and economic security across the region and beyond.

The EU and UK have a strong record on defence and security cooperation, from joint sanctions and intelligence sharing to cyber security and counter-terrorism dialogues.

In light of the changing global environment, continued and strengthened cooperation will be critical for providing the economic stability needed for growth, ensuring the security of critical supply chains, and fostering a resilient business environment.