London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The UK Home Office is developing a new “Europe Hub” to boost relations with the European Union.
The latest endeavour as part of PM’s strategy to encourage ties with the EU will sit within the International Strategy, Engagement and Devolution Directorate, and will reportedly be headed by Dan Hobbs, director general of the Migration and Borders Group. Civil servants have revealed the department will have responsibility for “ensuring that our strategic direction to this work is coherent, working collaboratively across the department”.
As reported by the Independent, Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft stated: “With shared global challenges in areas such as irregular migration, a strong UK-EU alliance is vital. This work is critical to the home secretary’s priorities for the department on border security, safer streets and our national security.”
How will the new hub improve UK-EU relations?
Dr Mike Galsworthy, head of the European Movement, said: “This is very good news as it indicates this government is thinking both structurally and strategically regarding how we work with our continent. With so many dimensions for cooperation, coordination and big picture view is essential. This is a reassuring step forward. Of course, there will be a predictable cohort who will cry that this is a Rejoin Hub or somesuch, but they would also cry Brexit betrayal if they saw a government minister eat a croissant and their squeals should be dismissed with an eye-roll.”
Moreover, the first session of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Europe, headed by Dr Rosena Allin-Khan and Tory peer Timothy Kirkhope, took place last week.
The group seeks to “discover areas of collaboration and interest” and probe the UK’s association with the EU.
The UK PM also visited Brussels earlier this month as a component of a wider endeavour to “reset” the UK’s association with the EU. While Sir Keir has previously urged the UK not to rejoin the bloc within his lifetime, he has promised to “make Brexit work” by renegotiating the deal agreed upon by Boris Johnson and the Tories. “I’ve been clear about not rejoining the EU, the single market or the customs union – or [allowing a] return to freedom of movement,” he stated.