“Migration policy must be firm, fair & based on cooperation with our European partners.”. CEF Patron @LordKirkhope, writing in the Yorkshire Post, welcomes the UK–France deal but calls for a wider strategy on asylum, returns & integration. Read here ⬇️.

RT @LordKirkhope: A positive discussion on UK-EU relations at Manchester University incl Citizen's rights and our Partnership. Thanks to @E….

What do you want to know?.

RT @DLidington: This by @hoyer_kat on Starmer/Merz summit is well worth reading. Interesting insights on the worldview of Germany's new lea….

RT @LordKirkhope: Busy week in Parliament. Pres. Macron's visit. UK-French talks on Immigration and Security and a reminder that Asylum Pol….

RT @SHK_UK: Delighted to welcome my good friend MEP @michaelgahler @Europarl_EN @EPPGroup to London today and thank him for his outstanding….

RT @GermanAmbUK: An excellent discussion with the “Conservative European Forum”, chaired by @DLidington, on strengthening our bilateral 🇬🇧….

RT @MelJStride: The @conservatives will never do a deal with Reform. Farage's "Fantasy Economics" would put the UK on the road to ruin. I….

RT @andy4wm: You don’t get anywhere being defined by others. So instead of chasing the right, the Conservatives should be championing econ….

Writing for @ConHome, CEF Chair @S_Hammond makes the case for a new, pragmatic approach to UK–EU relations. Ahead of the UK–EU Summit, he argues that it’s time to move beyond past divisions and act in the national interest.

“The world today is very different from the one in which the TCA was signed.”.

🔹 Defence R&D access. The EU’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) fund is a major step to scale up joint defence. The EDF & other procurement tools are critical for innovation, exports & industrial resilience. The UK must not be locked out. /7.

🔹 Operational cooperation. A UK–EU Framework Participation Agreement would enable selective UK involvement in missions — like ATALANTA or ALTHEA — where we’ve already led. /6.

🔹 PESCO. Projects like Military Mobility and Cyber Rapid Response strengthen resilience. The UK’s capabilities could add serious value — and deepen interoperability with EU allies. /5.

A new UK–EU Security & Defence Partnership should include:. 🔹 Annual summits and high-level dialogue.🔹 A Framework Participation Agreement for EU missions.🔹 Engagement in PESCO projects.🔹 Access to major EU defence initiatives /4.

The 2019 Political Declaration offered a clear vision:. ✅ Strategic dialogue.✅ Operational coordination.✅ Joint defence investment. It’s time to turn that vision into action. /3.

Since 2020, Europe’s security landscape has changed dramatically:. 🔹 Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine.🔹 US shifting focus.🔹 Rising instability and hybrid threats. Europe needs to act — and the UK should be at the table. /2.

🇬🇧 The UK is a cornerstone of European security. But its cooperation with the EU remains limited, informal, and fragmented. With the UK–EU Summit approaching, it’s time to rebuild a structured partnership. Here’s how 👇 /1.

The UK–EU Summit is a chance to reset our economic partnership. Let’s move beyond managing friction — and rebuild trade, investment, and trust. /ENDS.

✅ Professional Mobility. Current rules are fragmented and restrictive. UK professionals face 27 different systems — and limited rights to travel for work. We need a comprehensive deal to support services and talent. /7.

✅ Mutual Recognition Agreement. Let UK bodies certify goods to EU standards. Cut costs for manufacturers — from medical devices to electrical goods. The EU already has MRAs with the US, Japan, and Canada. /6.