Divorced but co-habiting: a co-evolutionary perspective on EU-UK regulatory nexus post-Brexit

In the aftermath of Brexit, the EU and the UK find themselves in an uncharted regulatory territory, similar to a divorced couple navigating the complexities of cohabitation. This article combines concepts from co-evolutionary theory with relational metaphors such as marriage, divorce, and co-habitation, offering a novel framework to analyse the unprecedented transition from EU member state to ex-member. The article uses food safety and gene editing regulations as case studies to illustrate the dynamics of this relationship. In food safety, both the EU and the UK maintain high standards rooted in past crises, reflecting a mutualistic co-evolutionary pathway. Conversely, in gene editing, the UK’s pursuit of a more liberal regulatory framework represents a competitive co-evolutionary trajectory, prompting the EU to reconsider its regulatory stance. This analysis unveils the complex reality of the post-Brexit EU-UK regulatory relations, marked by a continuous process of adaptation and influence.