Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK-EU Relations

Tuesday 2 December 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK entered discussions with the EU on the SAFE scheme in good faith, recognising mutual strategic interest and continued commitment.
  • The Minister is committed to defending the UK steel industry and is seeking urgent clarification from the EU Commission on its proposals.
  • A bilateral solution is needed for the EU steel tariffs to avoid damage to the UK steel industry.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Al Pinkerton Lib Dem Surrey Heath
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

With increasing concerns about Chinese espionage, Russian aggression in Europe, and US foreign policy instability, the UK needs to deepen its security co-operation with European allies.

Question

With growing Chinese espionage, Russian aggression on the European continent and a capricious President in the United States, it is more important than ever that we deepen our security co-operation with our European allies. Can I ask the Minister explicitly whether he recognises, as I do, that the UK’s deepest possible participation in the EU’s Security Action for Europe scheme is vital to common European security? What have he and the Government done to try to prompt the restart of the negotiations with the European Union that sadly broke down last week?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

Our security and defence partnership is broad. The UK entered discussions with the EU on the SAFE scheme in good faith, recognising mutual strategic interest and continued commitment. We were clear with the EU that we were prepared to make a fair financial contribution that reflects the potential for a mutually beneficial relationship and value for the taxpayer. However, we have always said that we will not sign deals unless they are genuinely in the national interest, and in this case the deal on offer from the EU did not pass that test. But I am absolutely confident that our wider defence and industrial relationships are not affected. In fact, our deal with Norway on frigates, our £8 billion agreement with Turkey for the purchase of 20 Typhoon jets, and our agreement with Germany on joint export campaigns in relation to Boxer armoured vehicles all very much represent the very best of European defence industrial co-operation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not explicitly recognise the importance of participating deeply in the EU’s SAFE scheme as asked. He also avoided discussing specific actions taken to restart negotiations with the EU beyond acknowledging that discussions had broken down and explaining why they did not meet national interests.

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Q2 Nia Griffith Lab Llanelli
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Proposed EU steel tariffs could damage the UK and European steel industries, as well as broader manufacturing sectors across both regions.

Question

I know that the Minister appreciates the need for the EU and the UK to work very closely together in the face of global security threats and trade challenges. In his talks with EU colleagues, will he impress on them the damage that the proposed EU steel tariffs would do to not just our UK steel industry but manufacturing across the UK and the EU?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

My hon. Friend has always been a very strong advocate for the steel industry. I can confirm that we are absolutely committed to defending our steel industry. We are seeking an urgent clarification from the EU Commission on its proposals. We need to find a bilateral solution. Any EU measures must, of course, be consistent with the trade and co-operation agreement and uphold summit commitments and, indeed, our Windsor framework obligations.

Answered
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