European Union: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill Received First Reading In Parliament

Authored by Max Iles

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill (the "Repeal Bill"), which will end the supremacy of EU law in the UK by repealing the European Communities Act 1972 and will prepare the UK's legislative framework after its withdrawal, has received its first reading in Parliament on July 13, 2017.

The Repeal Bill will have four key functions:

1. The repeal of the ECA 1972 and the end of the supremacy of EU law after exit day.
2. Conversion of EU law into UK law so that the UK's legislation retains a functioning statutory framework after Brexit.
3. Creating powers that, where the government considers it necessary, correct existing legislative provisions and afford the devolved administrations the power to make corrective amendments.
4. Maintaining the current scope of devolved decision making powers in areas currently governed by EU law.

The Bill was published with Explanatory Notes.

It is anticipated that the Repeal Bill will not receive its second reading until after September 5, 2017, after which parliamentary debate will follow. The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019.

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