evidence: Based on European Border and Coast Guard Agency data, as of November 2021, following the relaxation of COVID-19 measures, illegal border crossings at all of the EU’s external borders showed an upward trend (+ 60 % compared to the same period in 2020), with significant peaks on the central Mediterranean and western Balkan routes. [...] EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement 2021 marked the beginning of a new relationship with the United Kingdom following its departure from the EU on 31 January 2020 and the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. The EU’s objective is to establish a positive and stable relationship with the United Kingdom. The EU and the United Kingdom remain partners with shared values, and will have to tackle a number of global challenges side by side. Four treaties now govern EU–UK relations. In 2021, the European Commission focused on ensuring their full and effective implementation and the operation of their governance structures.