F6: UK-EU cooperation on foreign and security policy

Submitted by: Federal Policy Committee.
Mover: Layla Moran MP (Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Development).
Summation: Baroness Smith of Newnham (Lords Spokesperson on Defence).

Conference believes:

1. In the universal liberal values of internationalism, human rights, democracy and the rule of law and in the duty of the government of the UK to keep its people safe.
2. That the war in Ukraine has highlighted the importance of the UK working cooperatively with the EU and its member states on foreign and security policy, both by itself and through NATO.
3. That the UK's failure to take part in EU foreign and security policy schemes, especially those which involve third countries such as the USA, has been driven solely by the Conservative government's ideological hostility to cooperation with the EU.

Conference reaffirms:

1. The Liberal Democrats' rejection of the Conservative government's antagonistic approach to relations between the UK and EU, which has made the UK less safe and secure.
2. The roadmap to re-establishing good relations and rebuilding the associations between Britain and its European neighbours across a wide range of policy areas, as set out in policy paper 144, Rebuilding Trade and Cooperation with Europe.
3. The Liberal Democrats' support for a longer-term objective of UK membership of the EU, which will contribute to greater security and safety for both the UK and its EU neighbours.

Consistent with this approach, conference therefore calls for a new approach to UK-EU cooperation on foreign and security policy, including:

1. Making a clear declaration of a fundamental change in the UK's approach, setting out the UK's intentions to act as a good neighbour to the EU and to repair the damage caused by the Conservatives.
2. Offering to establish formal cooperation mechanisms on foreign and security policy issues, including regular ministerial meetings.
3. Rebuilding relations with the European External Action Service and the European Commission, and using bilateral relations with EU member states further to cultivate good will.
4. Taking advantage of unused provisions within the Trade and Cooperation Agreement regarding cooperation on cyber defence and security, including offering resumed exchanges of personnel with the European External Action Service.
5. Seeking association membership or cooperation arrangements with relevant EU agencies and bodies such as the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).
6. Joining one or more of the EU's existing Common Security and Defence Policy missions, such as the UN-mandated peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), and formalising UK support and involvement through a framework participation agreement.
7. Engaging with PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) projects such as the EU Military Mobility Scheme (which includes the US and Canada) to improve transfer of military equipment across Europe.
8. Extending intelligence sharing with the EU and its member states.
9. Deepening coordination of sanctions policy, in particular against Russia.
10. Improving cooperation over defence-industrial issues between the UK and member states of the EU and NATO, including joining common equipment procurement projects and supporting innovative defence technologies.
11. Extending the principle of close cooperation with the EU and its member states to other policy areas, including international initiatives in areas such as development cooperation, responsible business conduct and supply chain security, and international negotiations on topics such as climate change or biodiversity.

Applicability: Federal.

Mover: 7 minutes; summation of motion and movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see page 9 of the agenda. 

The deadline for amendments to this motion, see page 12 of the agenda, and for requests for separate votes, see pages 8-9 of the agenda, is 13.00 Monday 5 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Saturday's Conference Daily.