Monday 22 July 2019

Will UK-EU security pact remain seamless in event of a No Deal Brexit?

Today the Cabinet Office (not the Ministry of Defence or Foreign Office) published a Review of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015
(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/819432/NSS_and_SDSR_2015_Third_Annual_Report_-_FINAL.pdf)
Paragraphs 1.20 to 1.23 deal with  Security post-Brexit and the European Union. read as follows:
Leaving the European Union
 
1.20 On 23 June 2016, the British public voted in a referendum to leave the European Union (EU). The UK invoked Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union on 29 March 2017, initiating the procedure for the UK to leave the EU. At time of publication, the UK is due to leave by 31 October 2019. The decision to leave the EU carries significant implications for the UK in many areas of political and economic engagement.

1.21 The threats and challenges to our national security have not fundamentally changed as a result of the decision to leave the EU. Only one of SDSR 2015’s 89 principal commitments will be directly affected when the UK leaves the EU (Championing the EU/India Free Trade Agreement).
 
1.22 We remain unconditionally committed to European security. The Withdrawal Agreement provides for an implementation period in which the UK will have continued access to European Union security tools and measures. We will be able to continue participating in EU operations and missions. We will have access to external action programmes and projects.

1.23 The Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the EU and the UK provides for the broadest and most comprehensive security partnership the EU has ever had with a third country. In November 2018, the government published its assessment of the cooperation envisaged under the security partnership and compared this with security cooperation envisaged in a no deal scenario. The security partnership will bolster and complement our broader multilateral and bilateral security cooperation with European partners.

How will the Defence Secretary, Foreign Secretary and  Home Secretary appointed by the new Conservative Prime Minister this week ensure these arrangement are continued seemlessly in the event of a No Deal Brexit?

annex
Also published today:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201719/jtselect/jtnatsec/2072/207202.htm

Revisiting the UK’s national security strategy: The National Security Capability Review and the Modernising Defence Programme Contents




Contents

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