Speaking at the annual conference of the Institute for European Environmental Policy UK (IEEP UK) on 22 January 2025, Minister for Nature, Mary Creagh MP stated that “When tackling the impacts of climate change, nature loss and pollution, the shared values and interests of the United Kingdom and the European Union will provide the strategic driver for stronger cooperation.  This government cannot meet the UK’s ambitious environmental targets without working in partnership.”

As Minister responsible for driving the UK’s ambitions for circular economy, she stated the government’s commitment to developing a new Circular Economy strategy for England and appointment of a Circular Economy Task Force and learn from other countries, including the EU.

Also speaking at the conference was EU Commission representative Claudia Fusco, a Director at DG Environment, responsible for relations with the UK, stating: “I am very pleased with the speech from Minister Creagh, and her willingness for cooperation. Ursula Von der Leyen wants to strengthen cooperation with the UK. Shared challenges and mutual challenges are a foundation for positive relations.”

She noted that advancing cooperation on sustainable fishing, climate and energy were areas of mutual benefit. However she noted that the existing agreement needs to be fully implemented and that divergence of standards over time could have a range of implications:

“There is a need to keep an open and fair level playing field. We need to avoid the risk of environmental policy divergence, which could create frictions and affect trade. We need environmentally driven product standards, and need to work closely to avoid additional costs to businesses.”

Both the Minister and Commission representative noted the multiple meetings that had taken place between representatives since Autumn 2024, confirming a further meeting will take place in early February 2025. IEEP UK track environmental policy divergence which has grown year on year since the UK left the EU, and will be producing a comprehensive update in Spring 2025.

The conference also touched on the membership of the European Environment Agency and data network Eionet, which the UK left, despite membership being open to non-EU countries. In response to the specific question as to whether the UK might consider rejoining the European Environment Agency and EIONET, the environmental data network, the Minister noted that the UK had left the EEA when the UK left the EU and it had continued to cooperate with the EEA as required.

Speaking later in the conference, Executive Director of the EEA, Leena Yla-Mononen commented that she would “welcome the opportunity to cooperate with the UK in future. This decision lies with the UK and European institutions.”

Ben Reynolds, Executive Director of IEEP UK, commented on the developments: “We were pleased that Minister Mary Creagh chose our conference as the first occasion that the new Government has spoken publicly about its relationship with the EU on environmental policy, and were heartened that what emerged from both the Minster and Claudia Fusco of DG ENV is an appetite to develop close relations. Both the EU and UK have pioneered some impressive environmental policy reforms since Brexit, and through strengthened cooperation, sharing of data and learning, both can better achieve their priorities and inspire greater ambition to improve our shared environment.”

The IEEP UK will continue to monitor the evolving state of UK-EU environmental relations through subsequent reports and briefings, newsletters, divergence hubs and webinars. A write up of the conference and link to the recording is available here.

Photo by Glen Hooper on Unsplash