Date: 2025-07-02Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2025/1302 of 17 June 2025 establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Partnership Council established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, as regards decision No 2/2025 of the Partnership Council
Executive Summary:
This Council Decision establishes the EU's position regarding Partnership Council Decision No 2/2025 concerning the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the UK. The decision interprets Article 3312 of the agreement, allowing for the extension of Title VIII (energy) until March 31, 2027, even if decided before July 1, 2026, with effect from that date. The aim is to provide legal certainty and predictability in energy and raw materials trade.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Extension of Title VIII (Energy):**
* The Partnership Council may decide to extend the application of Title VIII of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement until March 31, 2027.
* This decision can be adopted between July 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.
* **Interpretation of Article 3312:**
* A decision to extend Title VIII can be adopted before July 1, 2026, provided it takes effect only as of July 1, 2026.
* This interpretation aims to avoid any interruption in the application of Title VIII.
* **Objectives of Title VIII:**
* To facilitate trade and investment in energy and raw materials between the EU and the UK.
* To support security of supply and environmental sustainability, contributing to the fight against climate change.
* **Decision Implementation:**
* Article 3312 is interpreted to allow for early adoption of the extension decision, effective July 1, 2026.
* The application of Title VIII is extended until March 31, 2027.
Impact Analysis:
* European Union:
* *Impact:* Ensures continued cooperation with the UK on energy matters and maintains a stable legal framework for trade and investment in energy and raw materials.
* *Action Required:* Implement the decision and continue cooperation on energy with the UK until March 31, 2027.
* United Kingdom:
* *Impact:* Maintains cooperation with the EU on energy matters and provides a stable legal framework for trade and investment in energy and raw materials.
* *Action Required:* Continue cooperation on energy with the EU until March 31, 2027, in accordance with the extended Title VIII.
* Energy Stakeholders (EU and UK):
* *Impact:* Benefit from a stable and predictable legal framework that facilitates business and ensures market stability.
* *Action Required:* Continue operations under the extended Title VIII, anticipating continued cooperation and trade facilitation in the energy sector.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
European Atomic Energy Community: An international organisation established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 with the purpose of creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: A sovereign state in Europe, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain.
Trade and Cooperation Agreement: An agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part.
Partnership Council: A council established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, outlining its scope and function.
Council Decision EU 2021/689: Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part
Title VIII: Part Two, Heading One, Title VIII on energy, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1302 2.7.2025
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/1302
of 17 June 2025
establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Partnership Council
established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the
European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, of the other part, as regards decision No 2/2025 of the Partnership Council
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 194(2) thereof, in
conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community,
of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (the ‘Trade and
Cooperation Agreement’ or ‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision (EU)
2021/689(1) and entered into force on 1 May 2021, having been provisionally applied since 1 January 2021.
(2) Pursuant to Article 519(b) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Partnership Council established under the
Agreement may adopt decisions to issue interpretations of the provisions of Part Two of the Agreement.
(3) In accordance with Article 331(2) of the Agreement, between 1 July 2026 and 31 December 2026, the Partnership
Council may decide to extend the application of Title VIII until 31 March 2027.
(4) The Partnership Council is to adopt at its next meeting or by written procedure a decision interpreting and
implementing Article 331(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
(5) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Partnership Council as regards the
interpretation and implementation of Article 331(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Partnership Council established by the Trade and Cooperation
Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, as regards the interpretation and implementation of
Article 331(2) of that Agreement is set out in the draft decision of the Partnership Council attached to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
(1) Council Decision (EU) 2021/689 of 29 April 2021 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Trade and Cooperation
Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, and of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information (OJ
L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 2, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/689/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1302/oj 1/4EN
OJ L, 2.7.2025
Done at Luxembourg, 17 June 2025.
For the Council
The President
P. HENNIG-KLOSKA
2/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1302/ojEN
OJ L, 2.7.2025
DRAFT
DECISION No 2/2025 OF THE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL ESTABLISHED BY THE TRADE AND
COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE EUROPEAN
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT
BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, OF THE OTHER PART
of …
issuing an interpretation of Article 331(2) and extending the application of Part Two, Heading One,
Title VIII on energy, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the
European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, of the other part
THE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL,
Having regard to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy
Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (‘the
Agreement’), and in particular Article 519(b) and Article 331(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) In accordance with Article 331(1) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, Part Two, Heading One, Title VIII of
that Agreement (‘Title VIII’) shall cease to apply on 30 June 2026.
(2) In accordance with Article 331(2) of the Agreement, between 1 July 2026 and 31 December 2026, the Partnership
Council may decide to extend the application of Title VIII until 31 March 2027.
(3) A situation in which the Partnership Council could adopt a decision on the extension of the application of Title VIII
only once Title VIII has already ceased to apply could lead to an interruption to the application of Title VIII, and
therefore to uncertainty as regards the legal framework applicable to trade and investment between the European
Union and the United Kingdom in the areas of energy and raw materials.
(4) To provide for legal certainty and predictability, it is therefore appropriate to adopt a decision interpreting
Article 331(2) of the Agreement to the effect that a decision of the Partnership Council on the extension of the
application of Title VIII until 31 March 2027 can be adopted before 1 July 2026, provided that it takes effect only as
of 1 July 2026.
(5) The objectives of the Title VIII are to facilitate trade and investment between the European Union and the United
Kingdom in the areas of energy and raw materials, and to support security of supply and environmental
sustainability, notably in contributing to the fight against climate change in those areas.
(6) To achieve the objectives of Title VIII, it is opportune for both the European Union and the United Kingdom to
continue their cooperation on energy through the application of the Title VIII.
(7) Energy stakeholders should be provided with a stable and predictable legal framework concerning the continuation
of such cooperation which facilitates business and ensures market stability.
(8) It is therefore appropriate to adopt a decision on the application of the Title VIII until 31 March 2027,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Article 331(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement shall be interpreted to the effect that a decision on the extension of
the application of Part Two, Heading One, Title VIII of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement until 31 March 2027 can be
adopted before 1 July 2026, provided that it takes effect only as of 1 July 2026.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1302/oj 3/4EN
OJ L, 2.7.2025
Article 2
The application of Part Two, Heading One, Title VIII of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement shall be extended until
31 March 2027.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
Article 2 shall take effect on 1 July 2026.
Done at Brussels and London, … 2025
For the Partnership Council
The Co-Chairs
Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ
Nick THOMAS-SYMONDS
4/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1302/oj