Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

EU: Mutual Interests

Thursday 5 March 2026 · 6 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister stated ongoing discussions with EU counterparts on mutual interests, including trade, energy, and security.
  • Minister confirmed efforts to strengthen UK-EU relationship, addressing economic operation and growth.
  • Minister addressed concerns over travel costs to Europe, emphasizing government work on relationship strengthening.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve Race Lab Exeter
Brexit
Context

Discussions on topics of mutual interest between the UK and EU.

Question

What recent discussions he has had with EU counterparts on topics of mutual interest.

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

Since leaving the European Union, it has never been more important to work alongside the EU in the global context that we face. Our new strategic partnership with the EU is good for bills, good for jobs and good for borders. We continue our negotiations ahead of the next summit.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details of recent discussions

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Q2 Jeevun Sandher Lab Loughborough
Economy Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Impact of Brexit on import costs and economic relations with Europe.

Question

Reform Members promised us that torching our relationship with Europe would make us richer and stronger. Higher import barriers have driven up costs by £200, and a continent with wider divisions makes us weaker. How the Government will show the courage needed to build our relationship with Europe, make us stronger and make life here more affordable?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

We are building a stronger relationship every week to improve our economic operation and drive growth in this country. The EU is our biggest market, and the deals that we are negotiating on emissions, energy trading and food and agriculture trade will reduce costs for businesses and offer better prices and more choice to consumers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions to reduce costs and improve affordability

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Q3 Luke Charters Lab York Outer
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

Impact of Brexit on roaming charges for UK travellers in Europe.

Question

As my constituents head off to beaches in Benidorm, open-top buses in Barça and city breaks in Copenhagen over Easter, they will be sending holiday snaps and making calls home to their families. Will the Minister update the House on what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on cutting roaming charges for UK travellers?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

Those trips sound wonderful, and my hon. Friend is right to raise the issue, which impacts many families travelling to Europe. The Government work to strengthen the UK's relationship with the EU on a number of fronts, and I will ensure that that issue is considered as well.

Not addressed: Specific details on cutting roaming charges

How: Changing Subject

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Q4 Steve Race Lab Exeter
Brexit Foreign Affairs
Context

Progress on agenda for deepening co-operation and trust beyond the agenda agreed at last May's EU-UK summit.

Question

I welcome the Government's changed approach to our vital relationship with the EU. As a member of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, I know how much it has been welcomed by our partners in Europe, as well as by my residents in Exeter. Ahead of the next session of the PPA later in March, will the Minister set out the agenda for deepening co-operation and trust beyond the agenda agreed at last May's EU-UK summit?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

At this year's summit, the EU and the UK agreed commitments over a wide range of areas, from trade and youth opportunities to security and defence co-operation. We are making good progress on all those areas, but as my hon. Friend says, there is now a forward programme. This Government will not be restricted by ideology. We take a ruthlessly pragmatic approach across different sectors to what is in our national economic interest.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific agenda for deepening co-operation

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Q5 Mike Wood Con Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Brexit
Context

Government's promise not to accept automatic application of EU rules unless approved by this Parliament.

Question

After at least 15 major U-turns, it is helpful to check which promises the Government still intend to keep. On 22 July 2024, when I asked the Prime Minister whether he could promise that he would not accept the automatic application of EU rules unless they had been specifically approved by this Parliament, he answered simply, “Yes.” Can the Minister say that it is still the Government's position that we will not be required to adopt new European Union legislation?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

Of course there will still be a role for Parliament in the mechanism, as set out in last May's common understanding. The Conservatives have to own the choice they are making here. Through our food and drink agreement, we will take away costs from businesses, take away red tape and have a downward pressure on food prices. The Conservatives will want at the next election to put that red tape back and put those costs up. That is their choice, and I welcome the debate with them.

Not addressed: Specific position on adopting EU legislation

How: Changing Subject, Attacking Opposition

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Q6 Mike Wood Con Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Brexit
Context

UK's position on the role of the European Court of Justice in disputes following the reset of the relationship with the EU.

Question

The Minister knows very well that the choice was that of the biggest democratic exercise in UK history. His party promised to respect the result of that referendum but is instead seeking to row back on it. Members of the House and the wider public will have heard that the Minister clearly did not rule out the UK having to adopt new European Union legislation. The Minister will know from his time as shadow International Trade Secretary that we would never accept a trade agreement where the arbiter is an institution on one side, so can he at least rule out having the European Court of Justice as a body adjudicating in any disputes that follow from his reset?

Answer from Nick Thomas-Symonds

The shadow Minister has not read the common understanding and the mechanism that is set out. There is an independent arbitration panel, with the role of the European Court of Justice restricted to the interpretation of EU law but not binding on the overall decision of the panel. He ought to read the detail in the agreement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific ruling out of the European Court of Justice

How: Attacking Opposition

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