Brexit & the EU Archives

In Focus

Ash dieback and the health of English trees

Monday, 06 June, 2022

Threats to UK trees have risen due to factors such as globalisation and climate change. The government has responded with a tree health resilience strategy, an England trees action plan and an updated plant biosecurity strategy. However, certain pests and diseases remain high-risk, including ash dieback. Several organisations are seeking to breed ash trees that are resilient to the disease and the government has published a strategy for preserving ashes.
Research Briefing

Procurement Bill [HL]

Friday, 20 May, 2022

The Procurement Bill is a government bill that has been introduced in the House of Lords. The bill would reform the current rules on public procurement in the UK, much of which are derived from EU law.
Research Briefing

UK Infrastructure Bank Bill [HL]

Thursday, 19 May, 2022

This proposed law seeks to place the UK Infrastructure Bank on a statutory footing, giving it a specific set of powers. The bank is currently operating on an interim basis. Its purpose is to invest in infrastructure projects on behalf of the government and attract private sector funds for the same purpose.
In Focus

Queen’s Speech 2022: Brexit—Retained EU law and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

Thursday, 05 May, 2022

The Government is planning to make significant changes to the legal status of retained EU law and the post-Brexit regulatory landscape. This would be through a ‘Brexit Freedoms Bill’ and standalone legislation in areas such as procurement and data protection. There is also speculation the Government may introduce a bill to override parts of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.
In Focus

Impact of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland on recent political developments in Northern Ireland

Monday, 28 February, 2022

Amid ongoing objections to the protocol from unionist parties, Northern Ireland’s First Minister recently resigned. This followed an attempt by the Minister for Agriculture, currently subject to legal challenge, to halt checks required by the protocol on goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain. This article considers the Government’s assessment of the protocol’s impact on recent political developments in Northern Ireland ahead of a debate in the House of Lords.
In Focus

Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill

Thursday, 10 February, 2022

The Motor Vehicles (Compulsory Insurance) Bill is a private member’s bill introduced in the House of Commons by Peter Bone (Conservative MP for Wellingborough). It aims to reverse a 2014 decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union that expanded the types of vehicles required to have compulsory third-party motor insurance. The bill received Government support in the Commons and the Labour Party did not oppose it. Its second reading in the House of Lords is scheduled to take place on 18 March 2022.
In Focus

Beyond Brexit: policing, law enforcement and security

Monday, 07 February, 2022

From 1 January 2021, the UK and EU’s relationship in policing, law enforcement and security has been governed by the provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, most notably part three. The House of Lords European Union Committee published a report examining the arrangements on 26 March 2021. The committee welcomed several of the agreement’s provisions but said it was an unavoidable consequence of Brexit that it did not provide for the same level of collaboration as before.
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In Focus

Train driving licences in the Channel Tunnel zone

Friday, 21 January, 2022

The Government has introduced regulations to allow EEA-issued train driving licences to continue to be valid in the Channel Tunnel and cross-border area. The regulations would allow it to implement a proposed bilateral agreement with France.
Research Briefing

Subsidy Control Bill

Thursday, 13 January, 2022

The bill would establish a new domestic subsidy control regime following the UK’s departure from the EU. It sets out principles and other requirements for public authorities to comply with when giving subsidies, as well as oversight and enforcement mechanisms. The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 19 January 2022.
In Focus

Trade and institutional frameworks after Brexit

Wednesday, 01 December, 2021

What institutions and arrangements will govern the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU? And what will be the implications of Brexit for UK-EU trade in services and trade in goods? This article summarises the findings of three reports from a House of Lords committee that addressed these questions, as well as the Government’s responses. The House of Lords is due to debate the reports on 6 December 2021.
In Focus

European Union Committee report—Beyond Brexit: Food, Environment, Energy and Health

Thursday, 11 November, 2021

What impact will the UK’s new relationship with the EU have on food, the environment, energy and health? This article examines key findings of a House of Lords committee that looked at this topic earlier this year, as well as the Government’s response, ahead of a debate on 15 November 2021.
In Focus

Common frameworks and the devolved nations

Wednesday, 29 September, 2021

Following the UK’s departure from the EU, the UK now has power to make decisions which used to be made at EU level. Several of these powers relate to policy areas that the devolved nations are individually responsible for. The UK and devolved governments have been developing common frameworks to ensure regulatory consistency in these policy areas.
In Focus

UK visa and immigration policies for EU and EEA citizens

Tuesday, 31 August, 2021

Since freedom of movement ended, EU and EEA citizens coming to the UK since 1 January 2021 are subject to immigration controls and the UK’s new points-based immigration system. EU and EEA citizens who were living in the UK before that date were eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to enable them to remain here. This article looks at key features of both schemes and the impact of the changes.
Research Briefing

Northern Ireland Protocol: House of Lords committee reports and recent developments

Wednesday, 25 August, 2021

The House of Lords is due to debate two committee reports on the Northern Ireland Protocol on 13 September 2021. This briefing summarises the reports and recent developments relating to the protocol, including the Government’s July 2021 command paper that argued for discussions with the EU to find a “new balance” in the protocol.
In Focus

EU Committee Report: future UK–EU relationship on professional and business services

Thursday, 15 July, 2021

In October 2020, the House of Lords European Union Committee published a report into the future of the UK-EU relationship on professional and business services. It argued the UK’s professional and business services sector potentially could be damaged by the establishment of new barriers to trade at the end of the transition period on 1 January 2021. The report recommended the Government needed to do more to support the sector.

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