Jarek Wisniewski
@jwisniewski.bsky.social
Clerk to the European Affairs Committee (House of Lords). Ex-diplomacy. Foreign, security & defence policy, Europe, NATO. Personal views. Bias football takes. Fulham FC
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
We have a new Chair & 8 new Members, after the House agreed the annual rotation of committee Members yesterday. Welcome to our new Chair, Lord Stirrup, & thank you to our outgoing Chair Lord Ricketts @lordrickettsp.bsky.social. See our full new line-up here: committees.parliament.uk/committee/51...
European Affairs Committee - Membership - Committees - UK Parliament
Committee membership for the European Affairs Committee.
committees.parliament.uk
January 28, 2026 at 8:07 AM
We have a new Chair & 8 new Members, after the House agreed the annual rotation of committee Members yesterday. Welcome to our new Chair, Lord Stirrup, & thank you to our outgoing Chair Lord Ricketts @lordrickettsp.bsky.social. See our full new line-up here: committees.parliament.uk/committee/51...
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
💥📣 My new book will be out on 7 May! Order your copy now: geni.us/PeaceMakers. It’s the exciting story of the men and women of the Foreign Office in WWII. In a world torn apart by war, they evacuated UK citizens, picked up intel in shadowy corners, corralled allies and organised PoW escape lines.
January 26, 2026 at 11:48 AM
💥📣 My new book will be out on 7 May! Order your copy now: geni.us/PeaceMakers. It’s the exciting story of the men and women of the Foreign Office in WWII. In a world torn apart by war, they evacuated UK citizens, picked up intel in shadowy corners, corralled allies and organised PoW escape lines.
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
We're taking evidence on Weds (21 Jan 2:30pm) from Home Office Minister Lord Hanson of Flint. We'll be asking re: a range of Home Office EU business, incl. citizens' rights & follow-up to last year's summit on law enforcement cooperation & irregular migration committees.parliament.uk/event/25910/...
21 January 2026 - Oral evidence - The Rt Hon the Lord Hanson of Flint - Oral evidence - Committees - UK Parliament
14:30 - Room 3, Palace of Westminster
committees.parliament.uk
January 19, 2026 at 10:17 AM
We're taking evidence on Weds (21 Jan 2:30pm) from Home Office Minister Lord Hanson of Flint. We'll be asking re: a range of Home Office EU business, incl. citizens' rights & follow-up to last year's summit on law enforcement cooperation & irregular migration committees.parliament.uk/event/25910/...
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
Lord Peter Ricketts on BBC4 re Trump/Greenland: 'The right thing for the European countries is to react very calmly, to be firm & polite in public, ... making the case that America can have all its security interests served by working with Denmark and with Nato.' www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Donald Trump says eight European countries face 10% tariff for opposing US control of Greenland – Europe live
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland will face tariffs from 1 February
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Lord Peter Ricketts on BBC4 re Trump/Greenland: 'The right thing for the European countries is to react very calmly, to be firm & polite in public, ... making the case that America can have all its security interests served by working with Denmark and with Nato.' www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
Whatever else 2026 has in store, we will have the most sensational example of cultural diplomacy for a generation with the Bayeux Tapestry returning to the UK for the first time in 1,000 years, and on display at the British Museum from September. The vivid images speak to all ages. Don’t miss it!
January 1, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Whatever else 2026 has in store, we will have the most sensational example of cultural diplomacy for a generation with the Bayeux Tapestry returning to the UK for the first time in 1,000 years, and on display at the British Museum from September. The vivid images speak to all ages. Don’t miss it!
Somewhat unexpectedly, one of the best books I’ve read this year.
The history of the August 2024 prisoner swap, the largest one since the Cold War. A lot about the US, Germany, and Slovenia. Less than expected about Poland, holding a GRU operative included in the swap.
The history of the August 2024 prisoner swap, the largest one since the Cold War. A lot about the US, Germany, and Slovenia. Less than expected about Poland, holding a GRU operative included in the swap.
December 31, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Somewhat unexpectedly, one of the best books I’ve read this year.
The history of the August 2024 prisoner swap, the largest one since the Cold War. A lot about the US, Germany, and Slovenia. Less than expected about Poland, holding a GRU operative included in the swap.
The history of the August 2024 prisoner swap, the largest one since the Cold War. A lot about the US, Germany, and Slovenia. Less than expected about Poland, holding a GRU operative included in the swap.
Polish basketball mecca - no better place to watch basketball than the Wrocław-based Hala Stulecia, home of Śląsk Wrocław
December 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Polish basketball mecca - no better place to watch basketball than the Wrocław-based Hala Stulecia, home of Śląsk Wrocław
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
European Commission has today recommended UK-EU negotiations for 2 agreements: UK participation in EU internal electricity market & UK financial contribution to reducing EU regional disparities—so, more developments since our Nov report on the UK-EU reset publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...
House of Lords - Unfinished Business: Resetting the UK-EU relationship - European Affairs Committee
publications.parliament.uk
December 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM
European Commission has today recommended UK-EU negotiations for 2 agreements: UK participation in EU internal electricity market & UK financial contribution to reducing EU regional disparities—so, more developments since our Nov report on the UK-EU reset publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...
Includes very good live coverage of the Ukrainian president’s visit to Poland and his meeting with his Polish counterpart, a significant step in a somewhat complicated Polish-Ukrainian relationship
Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy says EU’s €90bn loan is a ‘signal to Russians’
Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy says EU’s €90bn loan is a ‘signal to Russians’
Ukrainian leader welcomes move and says it is critical Russian assets, which are not part of the deal, remain frozen
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Includes very good live coverage of the Ukrainian president’s visit to Poland and his meeting with his Polish counterpart, a significant step in a somewhat complicated Polish-Ukrainian relationship
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
The European Commission has today renewed the UK's EU data adequacy status, to 2031. Based on our earlier work on the issue, in our Nov report on the UK-EU reset we noted renewal "would avoid significant disruption to UK-EU cooperation across the board". publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...
December 19, 2025 at 11:12 AM
The European Commission has today renewed the UK's EU data adequacy status, to 2031. Based on our earlier work on the issue, in our Nov report on the UK-EU reset we noted renewal "would avoid significant disruption to UK-EU cooperation across the board". publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
Good to hear that the Government are (finally) taking action to get this money to those who need it most in Ukraine. This is what we called for in our @lordseuroaffairs.parliament.uk Report in January 2024 Report committees.parliament.uk/publications...
committees.parliament.uk
December 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Good to hear that the Government are (finally) taking action to get this money to those who need it most in Ukraine. This is what we called for in our @lordseuroaffairs.parliament.uk Report in January 2024 Report committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
We've published a letter we've received today from Nick Thomas-Symonds about the agreement on the UK's association to Erasmus+ in 2027, plus updates on other negotiations following the 2025 UK-EU summit & confirmation of UK-EU aims before next summit in 2026 committees.parliament.uk/publications...
committees.parliament.uk
December 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
We've published a letter we've received today from Nick Thomas-Symonds about the agreement on the UK's association to Erasmus+ in 2027, plus updates on other negotiations following the 2025 UK-EU summit & confirmation of UK-EU aims before next summit in 2026 committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
Our Chair @lordrickettsp.bsky.social is at the COSAC conference of European Affairs c'tees in Copenhagen. Noting participants' calls for a stronger Europe, he said Europeans must work together to achieve this—as in Geneva last week—& expressed hope for a pragmatic solution on UK association to SAFE
December 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Our Chair @lordrickettsp.bsky.social is at the COSAC conference of European Affairs c'tees in Copenhagen. Noting participants' calls for a stronger Europe, he said Europeans must work together to achieve this—as in Geneva last week—& expressed hope for a pragmatic solution on UK association to SAFE
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
In the Folketing in Copenhagen for COSAC - Chairs of national European Affairs Cttees. I expect much support for Ukraine and the urgent need for a strong Europe - a good context to regret the disconnect between this and the failure of talks on UK access to SAFE. @lordseuroaffairs.parliament.uk
December 1, 2025 at 9:27 AM
In the Folketing in Copenhagen for COSAC - Chairs of national European Affairs Cttees. I expect much support for Ukraine and the urgent need for a strong Europe - a good context to regret the disconnect between this and the failure of talks on UK access to SAFE. @lordseuroaffairs.parliament.uk
An excellent snapshot of the complicated state of the Polish - German relationship www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Old tensions simmer just below surface as Tusk and Merz to meet in Berlin
Ukraine will top agenda, but meeting comes as positive sentiment towards Germany in Poland hits near record lows
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:00 AM
An excellent snapshot of the complicated state of the Polish - German relationship www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Came, saw, conquered #FFC #FollowFulhamAway
November 29, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Came, saw, conquered #FFC #FollowFulhamAway
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
Our Chair @lordrickettsp.bsky.social is on this week's Parliament Matters podcast from @hansardsociety.bsky.social (at 21' 25"). He discusses the UK-EU 'reset' & our recent report on it, & Parliament's current & future role in scrutinising UK-EU relations, including prospective dynamic alignment
🎙️ New episode: What really happens after Budget Day?
(Yes — there really are 101 Ways and Means resolutions…)
🧾 How the Budget becomes the Finance Bill
🇪🇺 @lordrickettsp.bsky.social on dynamic alignment with the EU
🔟 More sitting Fridays for the assisted dying bill
🔗 Listen ⤵️ buff.ly/M6S6kdP
(Yes — there really are 101 Ways and Means resolutions…)
🧾 How the Budget becomes the Finance Bill
🇪🇺 @lordrickettsp.bsky.social on dynamic alignment with the EU
🔟 More sitting Fridays for the assisted dying bill
🔗 Listen ⤵️ buff.ly/M6S6kdP
November 28, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Our Chair @lordrickettsp.bsky.social is on this week's Parliament Matters podcast from @hansardsociety.bsky.social (at 21' 25"). He discusses the UK-EU 'reset' & our recent report on it, & Parliament's current & future role in scrutinising UK-EU relations, including prospective dynamic alignment
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
We've written to the Government with Qs re: the European Commission 2026 Annual Work Programme & the Gov's Explanatory Memorandum on it—incl on migration, energy & competitiveness. We look at these documents every year as part of our regular EU scrutiny work. committees.parliament.uk/publications...
committees.parliament.uk
November 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM
We've written to the Government with Qs re: the European Commission 2026 Annual Work Programme & the Gov's Explanatory Memorandum on it—incl on migration, energy & competitiveness. We look at these documents every year as part of our regular EU scrutiny work. committees.parliament.uk/publications...
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
I represented @houseoflords.parliament.uk at a Summit in Stockholm to remind the world of Crimea’s plight since 2014: killings, children sent to Russian camps, cultural heritage destroyed etc. Zelensky put it powerfully in his speech to us ‘Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen’.
November 24, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I represented @houseoflords.parliament.uk at a Summit in Stockholm to remind the world of Crimea’s plight since 2014: killings, children sent to Russian camps, cultural heritage destroyed etc. Zelensky put it powerfully in his speech to us ‘Putin wants legal recognition for what he has stolen’.
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
Our Chair @lordrickettsp.bsky.social is representing lordspeaker.parliament.uk & houseoflords.parliament.uk today at the Crimea Platform parliamentary summit in Stockholm, to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people & call for a just settlement including respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
November 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Our Chair @lordrickettsp.bsky.social is representing lordspeaker.parliament.uk & houseoflords.parliament.uk today at the Crimea Platform parliamentary summit in Stockholm, to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people & call for a just settlement including respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
Our Chair @lordrickettsp.bsky.social and several of our Members are members of the UK delegation to the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) and taking part in the Assembly's sixth meeting today & tomorrow at Westminster. 📺 Watch live on youtube 🔽
We’re hosting the sixth meeting of the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. This brings together parliamentarians from the UK Parliament and European Parliament to discuss the future of UK-EU relations 🇪🇺 🇬🇧
Watch today and tomorrow’s proceedings live 🔴
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8ee...
Watch today and tomorrow’s proceedings live 🔴
www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8ee...
🔴 LIVE: 6th UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly Plenary Session - Monday 17th November 2025
YouTube video by UK Parliament
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Our Chair @lordrickettsp.bsky.social and several of our Members are members of the UK delegation to the UK-EU Parliamentary Partnership Assembly (PPA) and taking part in the Assembly's sixth meeting today & tomorrow at Westminster. 📺 Watch live on youtube 🔽
Reposted by Jarek Wisniewski
If you are puzzled by the proliferating EU demands for UK cash as part of the reset process I will try to see through the fog on BBC Radio 4 PM Programme at around 1730 (or later on BBC Sounds)!
On another point, it’s unbelievable that the EU are asking for €6.5bn as an entry fee to access SAFE. Remember: this is a loan scheme. The Gov’t are willing to contribute to the costs of running it. But a €6.5 bn fee is so off the scale that it suggests some EU members don’t want UK in the scheme.
Thanks to the FT for quoting me on the Lords European Affairs Cttee report. But as I understand the outcome of the Brussels debate on money, a UK contribution to EU cohesion funds w’d only be sought for future access to the Internal Market, not for SPS/ETS deals. This is good news. t.co/8UqLZ7bGn4
November 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
If you are puzzled by the proliferating EU demands for UK cash as part of the reset process I will try to see through the fog on BBC Radio 4 PM Programme at around 1730 (or later on BBC Sounds)!
An interesting aspect of the European Affairs Committee's work is its scrutiny role, in particular its examination of the Government’s Explanatory Memoranda.
Below are examples of correspondence with the Government, focusing on UK-EU negotiations on the Youth Experiences Scheme, SPS and ETS
Below are examples of correspondence with the Government, focusing on UK-EU negotiations on the Youth Experiences Scheme, SPS and ETS
After publishing our UK-EU reset report on Weds, we've sent 2 scrutiny letters to the Gov re: youth experience scheme & SPS & ETS linkage negotiations—especially re: UK financial contributions, & plans re: EU CBAM start on 1/1/26. See all our publications 🔽 committees.parliament.uk/committee/51...
European Affairs Committee - Publications - Committees - UK Parliament
Publications for European Affairs Committee
committees.parliament.uk
November 14, 2025 at 12:11 PM
An interesting aspect of the European Affairs Committee's work is its scrutiny role, in particular its examination of the Government’s Explanatory Memoranda.
Below are examples of correspondence with the Government, focusing on UK-EU negotiations on the Youth Experiences Scheme, SPS and ETS
Below are examples of correspondence with the Government, focusing on UK-EU negotiations on the Youth Experiences Scheme, SPS and ETS