Overview
The UK Contact Group (UKCG) was created by decision of the Conference of Presidents on 3 June 2021 and its mandate was renewed in the 10th legislative term in December 2024.
The UKCG was created in light of the complexity of the framework for EU relations with the UK, which requires active parliamentary scrutiny of commitments made in a wide range of areas. The UKCG mandate is to ensure coordination within the European Parliament on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Withdrawal Agreement, and other UK-related issues. The UKCG does so without prejudice to the overall responsibility and political oversight of the Conference of Presidents; and it does so without prejudice to the responsibility of the committees for scrutinising and following up on developments in their field of competence.
The UKCG is the main point of contact for Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner in charge of relations with the United Kingdom and the EU's representative in the Joint Committee and in the Partnership Council. The UKCG holds regular meetings with the Commissioner, inviting the relevant committees who are not permanent Members, when items within their sphere of competence are discussed.
The composition of the UKCG reflects the complexity of the coordination necessary for the proper scrutiny of the Agreements with the UK, and the need to ensure that relevant committees are informed and involved.
The UKCG is Co-Chaired by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Chair of the Committee on International Trade (INTA), and the Chair of the delegation for relations with the UK as Co-Chairs. This allows it to keep the link with the other EP bodies involved in monitoring and strengthening EU-UK relations and agreements. Furthermore, it includes one representative from each political group and the standing rapporteurs from the Foreign Affairs (AFET) and International Trade (INTA) Committees as well as of the Committees on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) as permanent members. The standing rapporteurs from other relevant parliamentary committees receive information regularly and are invited to the meetings of the Contact Group when the issues under discussion fall within the remit of their respective committees.
The UKCG was created in light of the complexity of the framework for EU relations with the UK, which requires active parliamentary scrutiny of commitments made in a wide range of areas. The UKCG mandate is to ensure coordination within the European Parliament on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Withdrawal Agreement, and other UK-related issues. The UKCG does so without prejudice to the overall responsibility and political oversight of the Conference of Presidents; and it does so without prejudice to the responsibility of the committees for scrutinising and following up on developments in their field of competence.
The UKCG is the main point of contact for Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner in charge of relations with the United Kingdom and the EU's representative in the Joint Committee and in the Partnership Council. The UKCG holds regular meetings with the Commissioner, inviting the relevant committees who are not permanent Members, when items within their sphere of competence are discussed.
The composition of the UKCG reflects the complexity of the coordination necessary for the proper scrutiny of the Agreements with the UK, and the need to ensure that relevant committees are informed and involved.
The UKCG is Co-Chaired by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Chair of the Committee on International Trade (INTA), and the Chair of the delegation for relations with the UK as Co-Chairs. This allows it to keep the link with the other EP bodies involved in monitoring and strengthening EU-UK relations and agreements. Furthermore, it includes one representative from each political group and the standing rapporteurs from the Foreign Affairs (AFET) and International Trade (INTA) Committees as well as of the Committees on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) as permanent members. The standing rapporteurs from other relevant parliamentary committees receive information regularly and are invited to the meetings of the Contact Group when the issues under discussion fall within the remit of their respective committees.