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The European Council formally authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the UK on an agreement for a common sanitary and phytosanitary area (SPS) and to link greenhouse emissions trading systems (ETS).
The aim of the SPS agreement is to reduce the burden of trading agricultural products between the EU and the UK by aligning sanitary and phytosanitary rules. An SPS agreement would align Great Britain’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards with those of the EU, removing the need for most certificates and checks on animals, plants, and related products moving between Great Britain and the EU.
Through the Windsor Framework, these benefits would also apply to movements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, while preserving Northern Ireland’s dual access to both the EU single market and the UK internal market.
Linking ETS would facilitate trading of emissions allowances between the EU and the UK, contribute to the common sustainability goals, and avoid carbon leakage between the two parties.
The envisaged agreements are a follow-up to the EU-UK summit and the ensuing Common Understanding agreed between the Commission and the UK government on 19 May 2025.
Following the adoption of the Council decision on 13 November 2025, the Commission is authorised to open negotiations with the UK on the agreements in question. Once negotiations are finalised, the agreements will have to be endorsed by the Council before they can enter into force.
November 13, 2025/ European Council/ European Union.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu
