European and UK business call for strengthened EU–UK cooperation

BusinessEurope, the Confederation of European Business, together with the UK business organisation CBI, are calling on political leaders in the European Union and the United Kingdom to strengthen economic, security, and regulatory cooperation. 

In a joint letter addressed to senior EU and UK representatives, the two organisations – representing more than 20 million companies – highlight that ten years after Brexit and five years since the conclusion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), barriers persist that continue to weigh on investment, growth, and competitiveness on both sides.

Despite these challenges, the EU–UK economic partnership remains strong. The United Kingdom confirms its position as the EU’s second largest trading partner, while the European Union remains the largest trading partner for the UK overall, with trade flows stabilising at levels comparable to those seen before Brexit. Trade in goods reached more than EUR 500 billion in both directions in 2025, with a surplus of EUR 187 billion in favour of the EU. Last year, EU–UK trade in goods amounted to EUR 557 billion, again with an EU surplus of EUR 60 billion.

Ahead of the upcoming EU–UK Summit, European and UK business are urging leaders to agree on concrete measures that will benefit companies and citizens, while setting out an ambitious agenda for deeper economic, defence, and security cooperation.

In addition to strengthening cooperation in defence and security, the joint call emphasises the need for progress in key areas such as a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, supply chain resilience – including resolving Rules of Origin for electrified vehicles, linking the EU and UK Emissions Trading Schemes, labour mobility, energy security, and mutual recognition of qualifications.

BusinessEurope and the CBI stress that deeper cooperation and reducing regulatory duplication are essential to enhancing the competitiveness of European and UK businesses. A political agreement reaffirming the United Kingdom as a trusted EU partner would, they argue, strengthen investor confidence and support growth across both economies. 

The full letter is available below. ⇣⇣⇣