EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has welcomed the UK’s commitment to pursuing a UK-EU security partnership following Britain’s withdrawal from the bloc.
The UK published a policy paper entitled Framework for the UK-EU Security Partnership last week, in which the country expressed its unconditional commitment to European security. Britain aims to develop a new security partnership with the EU which goes beyond any existing third country arrangements, the paper explains.
There are a number of factors which mean that security efforts require co-operation between the UK and the EU, the report argues. These include the geographical proximity and volume of cross border movements, and the common challenges faced by the two powers, given that terrorism and serious crime are not confined by borders.
How might this security co-operation work?
The UK’s proposal suggests the preparation of a new internal security treaty, which would rely on some of the areas in which there are already legal precedents to underpin the fundamentals of the agreement. Further, co-operation at the current level can be sustained based on existing EU measures, which the report argues is the most efficient and effective way of achieving shared objectives.
In a speech yesterday at the EU Institute for Security Studies conference in Brussels, Belgium, Barnier welcomed the UK’s commitment and outlined the mechanisms which could create a framework for future collaboration.
He insisted that, fundamentally, a UK-EU security partnership “should be based on an alignment of foreign policy objectives, rather than short term and ad hoc interests”. Barnier agreed that the basis of the agreement could be found in existing EU legislation.
What does the EU want from the agreement?
Barnier listed five mechanisms which could underpin the future of UK-EU security collaboration, including:
- Dialogue;
- Consultation;
- Co-ordination;
- Co-operation; and
- Exchange of information.
Each of these mechanisms will be supported by legislation within any potential agreement. For example, dialogue and consultation will mean regular discussion with the UK on foreign policy, to facilitate consistency of external action. In terms of co-operation, this means that the EU is open to the UK’s contribution to development aid, or participation in EU-led operations.
