UK EU Security Cooperation - What next?

As Keir Starmer seeks a new security deal with the EU, a 2019 agreement may offer a way forward. The Political Declaration, signed but never implemented, outlined ambitious cooperation on foreign policy, defence, and intelligence sharing. It promised UK involvement in EU-led missions and diplomatic efforts—commitments later abandoned by Boris Johnson. With global threats rising, is it time to revive these plans and reset UK-EU relations?

Written by Richard Corbett CBE, Former Labour Leader in the European Parliament

UK-EU security cooperation - what was agreed and then reneged on by Johnson could provide a way forward

 

As Keir Starmer seeks to find a security deal with the EU, it is worth recalling what was approved in principle by the UK and the EU in the 2019 Political Declaration setting out what both sides agreed regarding their post-Brexit relations.

This Declaration accompanied the Withdrawal Agreement, approved by both the House of Commons and the European Parliament. But Boris Johnson, having negotiated and signed this deal, then refused to follow it up once he got Brexit through Westminster, instead negotiating a minimalist Trade and Cooperation Agreement, reneging on the commitment to cooperate on issues such as foreign policy, security and much else.

But the Declaration was never repudiated – simply not implemented. It would be the obvious starting point for finding a way forward.

Paragraphs 90-107 spell out what the UK and the EU agreed on foreign policy, security and defence, which was quite significant. They envisaged “ambitious, close and lasting cooperation” and “ensure that the UK can combine efforts with the Union to the greatest effect.”

To this end, it provided for the establishment of “appropriate dialogue, consultation, coordination, exchange of information and cooperation mechanisms” through “consultation between the Parties at different levels (ministerial, senior official, working)” with UK ministers being invited to “informal Ministerial meetings of the Member States” and for “secondment of experts where appropriate”.

On relations with the rest of the world, both parties agreed “to seek to cooperate closely in third countries, including on security, consular provision and protection, and development projects, as well as in international organisations and fora, notably in the United Nations (…) including through agreed statements, demarches and shared positions”. There would be coordination of economic and political sanctions.

On defence, there would be British participation in “Union-led crisis management missions and operations, both civilian and military” with the UK participating “on a case-by-case basis in CSDP [Common Security and Defence Policy] missions and operations”, and having “the possibility, in case of CSDP military operations, to second staff to the designated Operations Headquarters”. There would be research and industrial cooperation on defence capabilities, and measures “to facilitate interoperability and to promote joint effectiveness of Armed Forces”. Both parties agreed to consider “to the extent possible under the conditions of Union law” UK collaboration European Defence Agency (EDA) projects and in defence projects supported by the European Defence Fund (EDF).

On intelligence sharing, both sides declared that the “future relationship should allow for timely exchanges of intelligence and sensitive information” and for the UK to cooperate with the European Union Satellite Centre (EUSC) in the field of space-based imagery.

These far-reaching provisions should give cover to Keir Starmer to be ambitious. The Tories can hardly attack a deal reflecting what they themselves agreed in principle. They respond to a genuine need in the era of Russian aggression and American confusion. They would give substance to at least the non-economic side of the promised “reset” of UK-EU relations.

Richard Corbett CBE

Former Labour Leader in the European Parliament.