December 8, 2025Open Access

Always a Manager? Assessing the Commission's Capacity to Manage and Deepen the Post‐Brexit EU–UK Relationship Whilst Expanding Its Competencies

Key Points

The Commission influences EU–UK relations through its broad range of powers and competencies, managing post-Brexit dynamics.
Findings show the Commission effectively utilizes its institutional tools to protect EU interests and seize opportunities for collaboration.
Analysis of the framework highlights the Commission's capability to maintain its role in third-country relations in the evolving landscape.
The study underscores the need for continued exploration of institutional influence in the EU's global interactions.

Abstract

Abstract This article analyses the European Commission's (Commission) capacity to manage and deepen the EU–UK relationship post the implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) and its efforts to expand its competencies within the framework, through the use of the principal–agent theory. Informed by studies on the powers and management roles of the Commission, the analysis focuses on three areas where the institution has demonstrated these capabilities. Our findings show that the Commission used all its available tools to protect the interests of the EU, seize opportunities to deepen EU–UK relations and build an unrivalled pool of policy expertise, whilst seeking to go beyond its role within the TCA. These findings show the Commission retains a broad range of powers and resources, which allows it to manage third‐country relations, whilst also maintaining its influence in the post‐Lisbon European Council framework.

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