European Union (Withdrawal Agreement)
Bill
“My Government’s priority has always been to secure the
United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on 31 October.
My Government intends to work towards a new partnership with the
European Union, based on free trade and friendly cooperation.
”
The purpose of the Bill is to:
-
Implement any Withdrawal Agreement which may be agreed
between the UK and the EU in domestic law.
The main benefits of the Bill would
be:
-
Ensuring that the UK leaves the EU with a deal on the 31
October.
-
Implementing a transition period to give businesses time
to prepare, during which the Government will negotiate a future
relationship with the EU based on a comprehensive Free Trade
Agreement.
-
Protecting the rights of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens in UK
law so they can continue to live, work and study in the
UK.
-
Implementing a new Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland
following the removal of the backstop.
The main elements of the Bill are:
-
Implementing the Withdrawal Agreement, Swiss Citizens’
Rights Agreement and EEA EFTA Separation Agreement in UK
law.
-
Implementing a new Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland,
which does not include the backstop arrangements.
-
Protecting the rights of EU, EEA and Swiss citizens in UK
law.
-
Securing a transition period to give businesses time to
prepare.
Territorial extent and application
-
The Bill’s substantive provisions would extend and apply
to the whole of the UK.
Key facts
-
17.4 million people voted to leave the EU in the 2016
referendum.
-
Since the Prime Minister took office in July 2019, his
focus has been on reaching an agreement that is acceptable to
both sides so we can leave the EU on October 31 with a deal,
move on and build a new partnership between the UK and the
EU.
-
This has included putting forward a new Protocol on
Ireland/Northern Ireland to replace the backstop, which was
rejected by Parliament three times. This new Protocol is a
special arrangement for Northern Ireland that protects the Good
Friday (Belfast) Agreement, supports the Northern Ireland
economy and ensures that the UK leaves the EU whole and
entire.
-
This Bill is the legal mechanism by which the UK can
leave the EU with a deal on 31 October 2019.
