EU commissioner says EU and UK are preparing their 20 November summit with talks on trade, energy and Ukraine

What the summit is meant to cover

European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič told the European Parliament that the EU has been working intensively with UK partners ahead of the upcoming summit on 20 November. He said this will be the second summit at leaders’ level since the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and called it significant progress in the relationship.

He said the partnership remains of vital importance in the current geopolitical, security and economic context. He also said the EU wants further progress with a close partner and ally while ensuring EU interests remain at the heart of its work.

Existing agreements remain central

Šefčovič said the EU and UK recommitted at the 2025 summit to the full, timely and faithful implementation of the existing agreements: the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Windsor Framework, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. He described those agreements as the cornerstone of bilateral relations and the essential foundation for cooperation.

According to Šefčovič, the Withdrawal Agreement protects almost 6 million EU citizens in the UK and about 1 million UK nationals in the EU. He said the EU must ensure they can fully enjoy their rights, now and in the future.

He said the Windsor Framework plays a vital role in avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and protecting the gains of the peace process. He added that work continues to ensure its full delivery, with flexibilities for people and businesses in Northern Ireland alongside safeguards for the EU Single Market.

On the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, he said it remains the most ambitious free trade agreement the EU has concluded with any third country and has so far operated very well, allowing the EU and UK to further develop their relationship on a firm and stable basis.

Negotiations the EU wants to advance

Šefčovič said the summit will be a chance to take stock of achievements under the Common Understanding. He noted that decisions on fisheries and energy were adopted one month after the last summit, and that the agreement on the UK’s association to Erasmus+ was signed in April, enabling UK participation in the programme in 2027.

He said the EU aims to complete negotiations on a common sanitary and phyto-sanitary area, a linkage between emissions trading systems, and a youth experience scheme as a package for the summit. Negotiations have also begun on the UK’s participation in the EU’s internal electricity market and on an appropriate UK financial contribution towards reducing economic, social and territorial disparities between regions in the Union. He said these negotiations will continue beyond the summit.

Ukraine and wider cooperation

Šefčovič said the EU and UK continue to work together to support Ukraine. Following the signature of a contribution agreement on 13 July 2026, he said the UK can now participate under the EU’s 90 billion-euro Ukraine Support Loan.

He said the EU and UK stand firm in their commitment to support Ukraine as long as it takes, to bring Russia’s illegal war of aggression to an end and secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

He also said there is merit in exploring new areas of cooperation of common interest, including support for businesses operating across the EU and the UK, cooperation on economic security, swift domestic measures to protect steel industries, work through the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity, and further cooperation on digital and defence industrial matters.