(1)

In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2025/2376 (2) the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding cooperation on the application of their respective competition laws (the ‘Agreement’) was signed on 25 February 2026, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(2)

The purpose of the Agreement is to promote and provide a framework for the existing cooperation and coordination in competition matters between the competition authorities of the Union and its Member States, of the one part, and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the ‘United Kingdom’), of the other part, with a view to enhancing more effective enforcement of the competition laws of the Union and of the United Kingdom. While the competition authorities of the Union and of the United Kingdom cooperate on the basis of Article 361(2) 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 (3), of 30 December 2020 (the ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’), Article 361(4) states that the parties may enter into a separate agreement on cooperation and coordination in competition matters. As such, the Agreement constitutes a supplementing agreement within the meaning of Article 2 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

(3)

The Commission has recognised by means of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1772 (4) that the United Kingdom ensures an adequate level of protection of personal data transferred within the scope of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) from the Union to the United Kingdom.

(4)

The Agreement should be approved on behalf of the Union.

(5)

The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6) and delivered an opinion on 15 July 2025,