EXITING THE EU WITH CERTAINTY
The Government will today take the next step in returning power
from Brussels to the UK by introducing the European Union
(Withdrawal) Bill.
Known as the Repeal Bill, it is designed to ensure that the UK
exits the EU with maximum certainty, continuity and control. As
far as possible, the same rules and laws will apply on the day
after exit as on the day before.
This will allow the UK to leave the EU while ensuring that our
future laws will be made in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and
Cardiff.
For businesses, workers and consumers across the UK that means
they can have confidence that they will not be subject to
unexpected changes on the day we leave the
EU. It also delivers on our promise to
end the supremacy of EU law in the UK.
The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union,
, said:
“This Bill means that we will be able to exit the European
Union with maximum certainty, continuity and control. That is
what the British people voted for and it is exactly what we
will do – ensure that the decisions that affect our lives are
taken here in the UK.
“It is one of the most significant pieces of legislation that
has ever passed through Parliament and is a major milestone in
the process of our withdrawal from the European Union.
“By working together, in the national interest, we can ensure
we have a fully functioning legal system on the day we leave
the European Union.
“The eyes of the country are on us and I will work with anyone
to achieve this goal and shape a new future for our country.”
The Repeal Bill is a mechanism to achieve three simple aims:
- Repeal the European Communities Act, remove supremacy of EU
law and return control to the UK.
- Convert EU law into UK law where appropriate, giving
businesses continuity to operate in the knowledge that nothing
has changed overnight, and providing certainty that rights and
obligations will not be subject to sudden change.
- Create the necessary temporary powers to correct the laws
that no longer operate appropriately so that our legal system
continues to function outside the EU.
The Bill sets out how we will prepare our statute book for exit
but will not make major changes to policy or legislation beyond
what is necessary to ensure the law continues to work properly
on day one.
As we exit the EU we want to ensure power sits closer to the
people of the UK than ever before. The Bill will ensure that
nothing changes for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – they
will not lose any of their current decision-making powers.
The Government expects there will be a significant increase in
the decision-making power of each devolved administration.
As powers are repatriated from the EU, the Government will
ensure they are exercised within the UK in a way that ensures
no new barriers to living and doing business within the UK are
created. This will protect the UK internal market, ensuring we
have the ability to strike the best trade deals around the
world, protect our common resources, and fulfil our
international obligations.
The Government has already made clear that as the Bill affects
the powers of the devolved administrations and legislates in
devolved areas, we will seek the consent of the devolved
legislatures for the Bill. We would like all parts of the UK to
come together in support of this legislation, which is crucial
to delivering the outcome of the referendum.
The Bill will also provide the Government with a limited power
to implement elements of the withdrawal agreement we expect to
reach with the EU before we exit.
We are clear we want a smooth and orderly exit and the Bill is
integral to that approach.
To ensure we are prepared for the process of withdrawal from
the EU, the Government will also introduce a number of Bills
over the course of the next two years including a Customs Bill
and an Immigration Bill.
The Repeal Bill means we can make corrections to EU law so that
it functions as UK law – this could involve changing a
reference to a particular piece of EU law or transferring
important functions from EU institutions to UK institutions,
depending on the outcome of the negotiations. Allowing
corrections to be made quickly will provide certainty for
business.
Notes to editors:
1. The Bill can be
found here.
2. The explanatory notes can be
found here.
3. Factsheets about the Bill can be
found here.
