Choosing a Fair Panel of Experts to Resolve EU‑UK Trade Disputes

Summary

The European Commission proposes that the European Council adopt a decision on the EU’s position in the Trade Specialised Committee on Level Playing Field for Open and Fair Competition and Sustainable Development (TSCLPF).
The TSCLPF is part of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the EU (and Euratom) and the United Kingdom.

Key points of the proposal

1. Purpose – To adopt a decision that establishes a list of individuals who can serve as members of the panel of experts under Article 409 of the TCA.
2. Composition of the list –

• Minimum 15 experts in total.
• Each party (EU and UK) must name at least five experts.
• Each party must also name at least five non‑national experts who can serve as chairpersons of the panel.

3. Expertise required –

• Specialised knowledge in labour law, environmental law, or dispute resolution under international agreements.
• Experts must act independently, not be instructed by either party or by EU institutions, and must not be members of the EU or UK governments.

4. Legal basis – Article 218(9) and Article 207(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
5. Implementation – The decision will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force the day after adoption.

Annex – Sample list of experts

Union‑proposed experts

• Giovanna Adinolfi
• Irina Buga
• Maria Gavouneli
• Ursula Kriebaum
• Peter‑Tobias Stoll
• Geert Van Calster

UK‑proposed experts

• Juliet Blanch
• Hugh Cheetham
• Kathleen Claussen
• Patrick Pearsall
• Janet Whitaker

Chairpersons

• Ujal Bhatia
• Zachary Douglas
• Eduardo Motta
• Penelope Ridings
• Thomas Cottier
• Christine Kaddous
• Anne Trebilcock

The Council’s decision will formalise the EU’s stance on this panel and ensure a balanced, independent group of experts for resolving trade‑related disputes under the TCA.