Brexit & the EU

The Draft Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Section 75—Designation of Public Authority) Order 2020 relates to Brexit. It would designate the newly created Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements as a “public authority” for the purposes of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, and therefore subject to certain statutory equality duties. The House of Lords is due to debate the order on 8 July 2020.

The bill would provide the Government with new delegated powers to update or amend the UK’s regulatory framework for medical devices and for human and veterinary medicines. Much of the current UK regulatory framework is based on EU regulations and directives. It would also allow a new information system to be introduced covering data on medical devices and would consolidate and expand enforcement provisions.

Xylella fastidiosa is a bacteria that can cause severe disease and death in certain plants. This article explains what the disease is and discusses recent restrictions on plant imports that the UK Government has imposed to reduce the risk of it being introduced to the UK. Xylella is due to be the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 8 July 2020.

Catch up on Brexit articles you may have missed in June 2020, including an article on the impact of coronavirus on Brexit.

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme for education, training, youth and sport. This article examines the prospects for the UK’s continued participation in the scheme after the end of the Brexit transition period.

Catch up on brexit articles you may have missed in May 2020, including the impact coronavirus might have on Brexit negotiations and the possibility of a trade deal between the UK and Switzerland.

The House of Lords EU Committee’s report on the UK’s influence on the EU after Brexit will be debated on 12 May 2020.

The UK must send an assessment of its economic position to the European Union. Parliament is required to approve the documents which form the basis of this assessment.

Catch up on Brexit articles you may have missed from April 2020, including on how the UK and the EU may approach discussions on their future relationship.

This article looks at how the coronavirus outbreak is having an impact on the Brexit transition period. It explores what the continued application of EU law during the transition means for the UK’s response to coronavirus, for example on state aid and participation in EU initiatives to procure ventilators. It also looks at what role there would be for Parliament in any decision to extend the transition period beyond December 2020.

This article looks at how the coronavirus outbreak is having an impact on the Brexit transition period. It explores how the pandemic has affected the timing and format of the UK-EU future relationship negotiations, and the ability of governments on both sides to focus on them. It also covers the effect on the UK’s implementation of the citizens’ rights and Northern Ireland provisions of the withdrawal agreement.

On 31 January 2020, the UK left the EU under the terms of the withdrawal agreement. This provided for an implementation period during which most EU laws, including new laws, would continue to apply to the UK. The transition period will last until 31 December 2020, unless the UK and EU agree an extension.

This proposed law has two main functions: implementing three international agreements; and setting out a way in which future agreements can be implemented.

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) provides a list of rights that signatory member states have committed to respect. Only member states of the Council of Europe are permitted sign up to the ECHR. There are currently 47 member states signed up, including the UK. The Human Rights Act 1998 enables UK nationals to rely on ECHR rights before UK courts. This article discusses what the ECHR is and the future relationship between the UK and the ECHR following the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Catch-up on Brexit articles you may have missed from February 2020, including an article on Scotland's relationship with the EU.