Among the many areas discussed at today’s EU-UK summit, there has also been vital progress on climate and energy. What was agreed is not only good news for both economies, but also for global multilateralism. It shows that both the UK and the EU consider climate and energy transition objectives to be delivering against their core interests.
Necessary steps were taken to accelerate the deployment of clean energy as well as strengthening cooperation at global level. Remarkably, both also vowed to strengthen cooperation on climate security as part of their defence and security partnership, showing just how closely climate is tied to core national interests.
Specifically, the UK and the EU agreed:
Strengthening energy security
- Energy cooperation: The UK & EU agreed to extend energy cooperation on a continuous basis, including to explore the participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market.
- Emmisions Trading System linkage: Ensure progress towards ETS linkage is made in time for entry into force of the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism in 2026.
- Next steps: enable aligned planning for a meshed grid between the EU & UK which could accelerate delivery timelines for offshore wind. The North Seas summit later this year in Germany would be a good time to announce this.
Safeguarding multilateralism
- Development cooperation: The European Commission and the United Kingdom will establish a regular dialogue in the area of development cooperation.
- Emissions trading: The EU and the UK committed to work towards establishing a link between the UK ETS and the EU ETS, setting a positive precedent for international cooperation on carbon pricing.
- Next steps: Development cooperation: most immediately, ensure this contributes to mobilising climate finance ahead of COP30 in Brazil. Ensure that key cooperation mechanisms, such as the UK’s Global Clean Power Alliance and the EU Global Energy Transitions Forum work together for transformative dialogue and cooperation with partner countries wanting to transition.
Enhancing climate security
- Security and Defence Partnership: A potential climate and security dialogue is included in the defence pact, including a technical exchange and a commitment to advance climate and security discussions in multilateral fora in which they are jointly active.
- Next steps: The upcoming NATO Summit will be an opportunity for both the UK and the EU to champion this critical topic.
Quotes
Ellie Belton, Senior Policy Advisor, Trade & Climate:
“The agreement to link Emissions Trading Schemes is a major achievement for decarbonisation in Europe, creating a more stable environment for low-carbon investment and promoting more efficient trade. Swift action to secure mutual exemptions from respective CBAM schemes will be a vital next step to reduce trade frictions before the EU’s mechanism comes into force in 2026. Today’s announcement marks a step change in energy cooperation between the UK and EU and demonstrates that both sides are committed to international leadership on carbon pricing.”
Kaysie Brown, Associate Director, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics:
“As the global discourse around climate-related security risks intensifies, today’s commitment signals meaningful progress. Climate change is increasingly reshaping the geopolitical landscape and impacting national and international security priorities.”
Manon Dufour, Executive Director, E3G Brussels:
“At a time when the multilateral order is under strain, it is fantastic to see the UK and EU putting residual differences aside to work together to face common challenges. Today, Leaders charted a new path for UK-EU relations which includes sustained and stronger cooperation on the energy transition, on decarbonisation, as well as on climate security. This deal is a promising step towards to lasting security and competitiveness on both sides of the Channel.“
Simon Skillings, Senior Specialist, Energy Transition:
“The commitment by UK and EU to move towards efficient electricity trading within the internal energy market should be welcomed. There is now an opportunity to develop this relationship further to jointly make the most of the vast renewable energy resources in the North Seas. This requires a senior political forum to keep ongoing planning processes in the EU and UK aligned and we look forward to hearing progress on this topic at the North Seas Energy Cooperation Summit later this year.”
– ENDS –
Available for comment
Manon Dufour, Executive Director, Brussels (EN, FR)
[email protected] | +32 (0) 477 76 78 01
Ed Matthew – Director of the UK programme (EN)
[email protected] | + 44 7827 157 906
Subject matter experts:
Energy:
Lisa Fischer - Director, Energy Transition (EN, FR, DE, ES),
[email protected] | +44 7710167754
Trade:
Ellie Belton – Senior Policy Advisor, Trade & Climate (EN)
[email protected] | +44 (0) 7712 537878
Notes to Editors
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