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Earlier this week, CLECAT attended the first joint meeting of the EU and the UK Domestic Advisory Groups under the EU-UK TCA. The two DAGs, tasked to advise the TCA parties on the implementation of the agreement, discussed key topics of mutual interest and concern, and how best to cooperate towards achieving their joint objectives and support the effective implementation of the TCA.

The meeting held an exchange of views from the various EU and UK members on the main issues and concerns in terms of the actual scope of the TCA and DAGs monitoring activities. The main topics of mutual interest concerned the need to ensure a level playing field between the UK and EU towards fair competition and protection of workers, businesses, and citizens. The promoting of regulatory cooperation for a positive and constructive framework of rights and standards was also highlighted as a key priority for stakeholders on both sides of the Channel.

There was consensus among EU and UK DAG members that the work of the two independent advisory bodies should not be strictly limited to issues falling within the scope of the TCA and their implementation but should rather take a more holistic approach to encompass other issues that may affect the agreement and the overall EU-UK partnership. In that context, the groups referred to the importance of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland to the TCA and the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement to be respected in all their dimensions. The role of the two DAGs in ensuring the removal of any technical and operational obstacles to the implementation of the Protocol was highlighted.

The DAG-to-DAG meeting was followed by the first Civil Society Forum of the TCA, which gathered civil society organisations representing employers’ organisations, workers representatives, NGOs and academics from both the EU and the UK, and discussed trade in goods, sustainability, energy cooperation and level playing field.