Today the EESC Follow up Committee published their report on the state of implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, as perceived by UK Civil Society Organisations (CSO)and other relevant stakeholders. The purpose of the information report is to contribute to the political dialogue between the EU and the UK by providing reflections from CSOs and other stakeholders on their future relationship.
The EU-UK Follow-up Committee was set up in March 2021 for the purpose of maintaining and strengthening relations between EU and UK CSOs, and monitoring the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. In addition to the economic implications, challenges regarding the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (Protocol) have been particularly complex and politically sensitive.
To keep abreast of developments on the ground the Committee has relied on contacts with UK-based civil society organisations and associations. For example, many of our members participated in the Committee’s fact finding mission to Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London last October.
The findings of the mission clearly demonstrate an overwhelming desire across UK CSOs for a deeper, more cooperative, constructive relationship between the UK and the EU, which would optimise the potential of the WA and TCA.
The Civil Society Alliance welcomes this valuable report and looks forward to working together to broaden our outreach to wider civil society and our social partners to achieve those aims.