In its draft agreement on future relations with the United Kingdom, the European Union calls for continued close cooperation in the field of foreign policy, security and defence. However, the United Kingdom has indicated that it does not want to negotiate an agreement on these matters.
The 17-page draft agreement on foreign, security and defence policy, which is separate from the draft comprehensive agreement (see EUROPE 12446/19), a copy of which EUROPE has obtained, stresses that “The Parties shall establish a close Political Dialogue and structured consultation on foreign policy, security and defence”.
According to the draft agreement, the two sides will be conducting regular thematic dialogues on issues of mutual interest and will be cooperating in multilateral, regional and international fora and organisations.
The EU calls for practical modalities to be established “to facilitate effective and timely intelligence exchanges, without prejudice to the autonomous development of intelligence products”.
Cooperation covers sanctions, amongst other areas, including in terms of information exchange, with the aim of reinforcing the coherence and effectiveness of decisions “while preserving the autonomy of their respective decision-making processes”.
On the subject of development cooperation, the European Union recommends working together whenever possible, and advocates regular policy dialogue and consultations in non-Member States to facilitate effective development cooperation.
The EU also believes it is important that the parties cooperate on issues of common concern in the area of crisis management and peace-building. The draft agreement states that “the United Kingdom shall be entitled to participate in EU crisis management operations and missions in accordance with the Protocol on its participation”, as is the case with other non-Member States.
There is also an emphasis on the interoperability and common effectiveness of Armed Forces, while account is taken of the United Kingdom's status as a non-Member State. The United Kingdom could, “in accordance with the relevant Union law”, be involved in the activities of the European Defence Agency and in permanent structured cooperation projects - once the question of non-Member State participation has been decided - and cooperate with the EU Satellite Centre, including in the area of intelligence exchange.
Space is an area in which the EU intends to continue its collaboration with the United Kingdom, although the United Kingdom will only be able to participate in non-security related activities of Union programmes, and access to Galileo will be conditional.
Finally, the EU focuses on continued consultations with London on issues of common concern in the area of consular affairs, consular protection and consular crisis management. The draft agreement states that, “in the event of a crisis, the Parties may cooperate to ensure efficient assistance for each other’s citizens”.
To read the draft agreement, go to: http://bit.ly/2w3rMG5 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)