Whilst the UK Government fixes its attention on withdrawal negotiations with the European Union, the UK Parliament is grappling with the legislation, the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. According to legal experts the legislation is ‘a legal revolution’. But, outside of the Westminster bubble, lawyers and the UK’s top judges have warned that the 62-page Bill does not uphold the rule of law.
Lawyers fear that the government’s hard line on its promise to ‘take control’ of its own laws will lead to failure in pursuing a comprehensive dispute settlement agreement in Brexit negotiations. Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty does not stipulate any rules or regulations regarding dispute settlement after a country leaves the European Union, but lawyers say it is vital that this is prioritised in the talks.
IBA Global Insight, June/July 2016. Since its inception under the Treaty of Rome in 1958, no country has ever exited the European Union. The possibility of entering uncharted waters has ensured fraught debate ahead of the United Kingdom’s referendum on membership.
In the run-up to the UK’s referendum on EU membership on 23 June, experts are warning that there are still many questions left unanswered
The second IBA webcast of 2015 featured James Palmer, Senior Partner of Herbert Smith Freehills, and was broadcast live on 24 April. Discussion covered law firm management and strategy, and corporate governance among other themes.
The IBA’s first live webcast of 2015 featured Viviane Reding MEP, former EU Vice-President and the first Commissioner responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, broadcast live from the European Parliament on 17 March.