EU Foreign and Security Co-operation 2026-09-01
2026-09-01
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Richard Foord asked about steps to improve cooperation between the UK and EU in foreign and security policy.
What steps he is taking to improve UK-EU foreign and security co-operation. The EU is a close partner in these areas, with agreements like the ambitious security and defence partnership. However, there is no British security without Europe and no European security without Britain.
There is no British security without Europe and no European security without Britain. The EU is one of our closest partners on foreign and security policy. That is why I was in Austria yesterday meeting a number of our European counterparts, and it is why the Foreign Secretary will travel to Ireland later to meet EU Foreign Ministers. The ambitious security and defence partnership agreed with the EU is boosting co-operation.
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Assessment & feedback
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Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Richard Foord questioned the support for an EU initiative to explore new options for Ukraine to use immobilised Russian state assets for its self-defence.
Four EU member states have written to the European Commission asking to explore new options for Ukraine to use immobilised Russian state assets for self-defence. When the Foreign Secretary goes to Ireland this evening, will he support that initiative?
The Foreign Secretary and I have discussed many of these questions, and he will of course be discussing Ukraine. We have made a signal contribution to European security through our efforts in Ukraine; we will continue to do so, and it will be a top priority in our discussions in the weeks ahead.
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Assessment & feedback
Support for the initiative was not specifically addressed.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Ben Coleman questioned the Government's commitment to pressing for better deals for UK constituents in EU decisions.
At the moment, the European Union is taking big decisions to address challenges that affect us too. Will the Minister reassure my constituents that the Government will press ahead with a summit this year, get good deals for young people and on the price of food and energy, and seek to be more ambitious and bold in getting us a seat at the table?
I can reassure my hon. Friend's constituents that, after many years of neglect, we are getting back to the table: I was at the table yesterday and the Foreign Secretary will be at the table this evening. We are pressing British interests in relation to steel made in Europe and on a whole range of really important questions. We have applied considerable pressure. Young people and research and development institutions will have access to a closer relationship with Europe, and we will push ahead in the coming weeks and months.
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Assessment & feedback
A specific date for the summit was not provided.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Calum Miller questioned the certainty of the UK-EU summit and the Government's commitment to a bolder approach to European relations.
Labour's decision to recruit a new Prime Minister led to the cancellation of the UK-EU summit in July, and a month and a half later, we still have no date. Businesses want to know whether the Prime Minister is committed to a bolder approach to European relations and if he will heed Liberal Democrat calls to put the UK's entry into the single market on the table at talks.
The hon. Gentleman knows how diplomacy works: we do not announce a summit until it has been agreed with our partners. I turn to his substantive question. Are we ambitious to go further and faster? Yes, we are. I said that in Europe yesterday and we have said it repeatedly. We are making every effort that we can make to ensure that there is a partnership that works for both the UK and the EU, and that we are advancing quickly towards it.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific date for the summit was provided.
Response accuracy