The Minister for Health, Care and Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, chaired a meeting of the Business Transition Advisory Group on Friday alongside the Attorney General, Michael Llamas CMG KC, following their return from Madrid.

The meeting formed part of the Government’s ongoing programme of engagement with the business community ahead of the implementation of the UK–EU Treaty and provided a further opportunity to update business representatives on the work currently underway.

It also allowed business representatives to raise directly with Government the practical issues which remain most important to local businesses.

The Government will continue to focus specifically on the detailed administrative arrangements which will apply under the new framework. These arrangements are currently being worked through with our counterparts, including in relation to the practical processes that businesses will need to follow once the Treaty comes into effect.

Subject to the conclusion of that work, the Government expects to be in a position to publish the relevant administrative arrangements on 1st June 2026.

The Minister for Health, Care and Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: “The Attorney General and I returned from Madrid on Thursday evening and chaired BTAG on Friday because this work remains a clear priority for the Government. We fully understand that businesses need clear, practical information in order to prepare properly. That is why the Government will use the month of May to focus on the detailed administrative arrangements which we are currently liaising with Spain on.

“I have also agreed to reconvene BTAG again in mid-May to provide a progress update on this work. Our expectation is that we will be in a position to publish this guidance on 1st June 2026. In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with business representatives, the Chamber of Commerce, the GFSB and relevant sectors as we approach implementation.

“My door remains open, and the Government will continue to engage sector by sector.”