UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, in Brussels to attend the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA), will promote a post-Windsor Framework future and welcome the more mature relationship the UK and EU have been able to build.
The Windsor Framework, signed off in March of this year, seeks to provide stability and certainty for Northern Ireland,
Cleverly will stress the importance of continued coordinated support for Ukraine and thank the EU for their contribution to last month’s Ukraine Recovery Conference hosted in London.
Cleverly will also co-chair the 11th Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee alongside Maroš Šefčovič in Brussels and have a bilateral meeting with his counterpart.
The meetings are an opportunity to monitor progress on the implementation of the Windsor Framework and discuss shared UK-EU issues such as citizens’ rights or tackling illegal migration.
Ahead of the visit, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:
This is a new chapter in the UK-EU relationship. We stand together in our support of Ukraine, and we want to maximise the opportunities of our trade deal.
But we don’t have to agree on everything – a mature relationship can deal with differences.
He will also celebrate recent successes, such as signing an MoU on financial services and cooperating on immigration via a Working Arrangement with Frontex.
Whilst there, the Foreign Secretary will meet with Roberta Metsola to discuss UK-EU Cooperation in areas such as support for Ukraine.
He will also sit down with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the Alliance’s support package for Ukraine and how the Alliance can adapt to future threats, including by increasing defence spending.
He will also reiterate the UK’s backing for Sweden to become a NATO Ally as soon as possible, following a successful visit to the country last week.
