Date: 2026-07-29Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision No 1/2026 of the Trade Specialised Committee on Level Playing Field for open and Fair Competition and Sustainable Development 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 30 June 2026 establishing a list of individuals who are willing and able to serve as members of a panel of experts established under Article 409 of that Agreement [2026/1868]
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security
**Executive Summary**
Decision No 1/2026, adopted on 30 June 2026, establishes the formal list of individuals qualified to serve as members of a panel of experts under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The decision ensures a standing pool of experts is available to resolve disputes regarding the level playing field, competition, and sustainable development. The list became effective on 1 July 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Panel Purpose and Legal Basis**
* The panel is established pursuant to Article 409 of the TCA to address matters arising under Article 355(3) and Chapters 6, 7, and 8 of Title XI.
* The scope covers open and fair competition, labour standards, environmental law, and sustainable development.
**Composition Requirements**
* The Trade Specialised Committee must maintain a list of at least 15 individuals.
* The list must be divided into three sub-lists: at least five individuals named by the EU, at least five named by the UK, and at least five non-nationals of either party to serve as chairpersons.
* The current adopted list includes six EU-proposed experts, five UK-proposed experts, and seven potential chairpersons.
**Expert Qualifications and Independence**
* **Expertise:** Panellists must possess specialised knowledge in labour law, environmental law, or international dispute resolution.
* **Independence:** Experts serve in their individual capacities and are prohibited from taking instructions from any government or organisation.
* **Affiliation:** Panellists must not be affiliated with either the EU or UK governments and cannot be members, officials, or servants of EU institutions or the UK government.
**Impact Analysis**
**Trade Specialised Committee**
**Impact**
The Committee is responsible for the oversight and administration of the expert panel list.
**Action Required**
Must ensure the list is kept up to date and maintains the minimum threshold of 15 qualified individuals.
**Individuals Named in the Annex (Panellists and Chairpersons)**
**Impact**
These 18 individuals are now eligible to be selected for panels to adjudicate disputes between the EU and the UK.
**Action Required**
Must maintain independence, refrain from taking government instructions, and serve in an individual capacity when called upon.
**European Union and United Kingdom Governments**
**Impact**
Both parties now have a finalised, mutually agreed-upon mechanism for resolving high-level trade and sustainability disputes.
**Action Required**
Must propose new individuals for the sub-lists if vacancies arise to ensure the panel remains functional and compliant with TCA requirements.
Key Entities Referenced
Trade and Cooperation Agreement: The bilateral treaty between the European Union, Euratom, and the United Kingdom that serves as the legal framework for their relationship and provides the authority (Article 409) for this decision.
Trade Specialised Committee on Level Playing Field for Open and Fair Competition and Sustainable Development: The joint governance body responsible for overseeing competition and sustainability standards and establishing the list of individuals for the panel of experts.
Panel of experts: A specialized body of individuals with expertise in labour or environmental law tasked with resolving disputes arising under specific sections of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/1868 29.7.2026
DECISIONNo 1/2026 OF THE TRADE SPECIALISED COMMITTEE ON LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
FOR OPEN AND FAIR COMPETITION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 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 30 June 2026
establishing a list of individuals who are willing and able to serve as members of a panel of experts
established under Article 409 of that Agreement [2026/1868]
(only the English text is authentic)
THE TRADE SPECIALISED COMMITTEE ON LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR OPEN AND FAIR COMPETITION AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT,
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(1) (the
‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’), and in particular Article 409 thereof,
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, was concluded by
Council Decision (EU) 2021/689(2)and entered into force on 1 May 2021.
(2) Pursuant to Article 409(3) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Trade Specialised Committee on Level
Playing Field for Open and Fair Competition and Sustainable Development (the ‘Trade Specialised Committee’)
established by Article 8(1), point (j), of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement is to establish a list of at least 15
individuals who are willing and able to serve as members of the panel of experts on matters arising under
Article 355(3) and Chapters 6, 7 and 8 of Title XI of Heading One of Part Two of the Trade and Cooperation
Agreement.
(3) Each Party should name at least five individuals to serve as members of the panel of experts. The Parties should also
name at least five individuals who are not nationals of either Party and who are willing and able to serve as
chairperson of a panel of experts.
(4) The Trade Specialised Committee should ensure that the list is kept up to date and that the number of experts is
maintained at a minimum of 15 individuals.
(5) In accordance with Article 409(4) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the experts proposed as panellists
should have specialised knowledge or expertise in labour or environmental law, other issues addressed in the
relevant Chapter or Chapters, or in the resolution of disputes arising under international agreements.
(6) In addition, the experts proposed as panellists should serve in their individual capacities and not take instructions
from any organisation or government with regard to matters related to the dispute. They should not be affiliated
with or take instructions from either Party and should not be persons who are members, officials or other servants
of the Union institutions, of the Government of a Member State, or of the Government of the United Kingdom.
(1) OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 10, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2021/689(1)/oj.
(2) 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/2026/1868/oj 1/3EN
OJ L, 29.7.2026
(7) On the basis of the proposals of the Union and the United Kingdom, it is appropriate for the Trade Specialised
Committee to agree on the two sub-lists for the position of panellist, and on the sub-list for the position of
chairperson of the panel of experts,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The list of individuals willing and able to serve as members of a panel of experts mentioned in Article 409 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, is set out in the Annex.
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its adoption.
Done at Brussels and London, 30 June 2026.
For the Trade Specialised Committee on Level Playing Field
for Open and Fair Competition and Sustainable
Development
The Co-chairs
Eva VALLE LAGARES
Camelia Emilia GROZEA
Niall MACENTEE-CREIGHTON
2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1868/ojEN
OJ L, 29.7.2026
ANNEX
(a) sub-list of individuals established on the basis of proposals by the Union;
Giovanna ADINOLFI
Irina BUGA
Maria GAVOUNELI
Ursula KRIEBAUM
Peter-Tobias STOLL
Geert VAN CALSTER
(b) sub-list of individuals established on the basis of proposals by the United Kingdom;
Juliet BLANCH
Hugh CHEETHAM
Kathleen CLAUSSEN
Patrick PEARSALL
Janet WHITTAKER
(c) sub-list of individuals who should serve as chairperson of the panel of experts
Ujal BHATIA
Zachary DOUGLAS
Eduardo MOTTA
Penelope RIDINGS
Thomas COTTIER
Christine KADDOUS
Anne TREBILCOCK
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2026/1868/oj 3/3