Negotiating The Future: The UK's Repositioning In Europe
Negotiating The Future
The UK's Repositioning In Europe
Project overview
The first phase of the research followed the Article 50 negotiations, examined the positions taken by the two sides, and explored the implications of the various scenarios. Thereafter, the focus was on the interaction between the UK and the EU, the UK’s wider repositioning in Europe, and the impact on the UK and EU sides. The research paid particular attention to the positions and action of the EU institutions and the EU-27, which are often overlooked or downplayed in coverage of Brexit in the UK.
Project aims
The aim of this project was to examine and communicate research on the negotiations between the UK and the EU, the UK’s relationship with the European Union, and the UK’s broader relations with ‘Europe’.
Research outcomes
The findings of the research were published in several forms, including blogs, podcasts and academic articles. A programme of events – national, international, regional and local – supported the research findings.
Key contacts:
- Professor Hussein Kassim,Link opens in a new window Principal Investigator, ESRC Senior Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe
- Dr Cleo Davies, Senior Research Associate
- Dr Pippa Lacey, Administrative Assistant
Funding: UK Economic and Social Research Council (under 'UK in a Changing Europe' programme)
Project dates: 2019 - 2022
Publications
Regulation after Brexit Revisited - October 2022
Nearly two years after the UK assumed regulatory authority following the end of the transition period, it is timely to revisit the state of UK regulation post-Brexit. ‘UK Regulation after Brexit Revisited’ follows and updates our earlier report 'UK Regulation after Brexit' published in February 2021 (see right). This revised report has chapters that are new or have been completely re-written to bring it up-to-date.
ReportLink opens in a new window
UK Regulation after Brexit - February 2021
Our report ‘UK regulation after Brexit’, published in February 2021 took a first step to mapping the new regulatory settlement in the wake of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
This report explores key findings including how UK regulation has changed since the transition period ended on 31 December 2020. It looked at the UK’s readiness to assume regulatory responsibility from the EU, the extent the UK has diverged from EU policy, and the long-term prospects for UK alignment or divergence.
UK bilaterals with EU member States since Brexit Working document - April 2023
Since it left the EU, the UK has signed multiple bilateral declarations and statements with EU member states. Although they have received less attention than the UK’s renegotiated trade deals, they form an important element of the UK’s post-Brexit diplomatic strategy and are featured in the UK government’s recent Integrated Review Refresh. This working paper offers a provisional examination of these agreements. It looks at their interaction with the WA and the TCA, assesses their significance, and discusses what they signal about the opportunities available to the UK for forging bilateral ties as a third country.
UK Bilaterals with EU member states since BrexitLink opens in a new window
Negotiating Brexit: Where Now?- October 2018
Specialists on different EU states address the following questions:
- What was the reaction to the UK referendum? What approach has your government taken, and what considerations and influences have shaped it?
- What have been your governments main concerns in the Article 50 negotiations, and what are its priorities in negotiation the Withdrawal Agreement? What kind of future relationship between the EU and the UK would your government like to see?
- What are the prospects, especially after Salzburg and the run-up to the October European Council, for an agreement and orderly Brexit?
Negotiating Brexit: What do the UK's negotiating partners want? - October 2017
The UK’s negotiating partners – the other 27 member states, as well as the EU institutions, and perhaps even the members of the European Free Trade Association – will also have a major say. In fact, contrary to political wisdom in some quarters, it may even be that the UK’s negotiating partners hold the upper hand.
Two Working Papers on UK-EU collaboration
Institutions and governance of the EU-UK relationship
describes the committee structures, their functions, and their operation hitherto. It also discusses the institutional arrangements put in place by the UK and the EU to manage the new relationship.
Related media
Podcast SeriesLink opens in a new window
Series 4: 'Books on Brexit' 2023
Series 3: 'Good Neighbours? The UK & Europe after Brexit' 2022
Series 2: 'After Brexit: what has changed?' 2021
Series 1: 'Negotiating Brexit: views from the member states' 2020
Video Series
UK Regulation after Brexit Revisited
Negotiating the Future EU-UK relationship
Negotiating Brexit
Assessing UK Membership
Good Neighbours? The UK and Europe Conference
After Brexit: Utopia or Dystopia
Brexit means Brexit, but what does that mean?
Past Events