UK PM triggers Brexit Article 50
The UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May has formally notified the European Council President Donald Tusk of the UK’s intention to leave the European Union (EU). In a letter hand-delivered today (29 March), the Prime Minister said the UK Government will “bring forward legislation that will repeal the Act of Parliament – the European Communities Act 1972 – that gives effect to EU law in our country”.
The notification has been submitted in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.
The Prime Minister’s letters sets out a number of “proposed principles” on which the UK Government believes the exit negotiations should be based.
These include the intention to “work together to minimise disruption and give as much certainty as possible”.
The Prime Minister commented: “Investors, businesses and citizens in both the UK and across the remaining 27 member states – and those from third countries around the world – want to be able to plan. In order to avoid any cliff-edge as we move from our current relationship to our future partnership, people and businesses in both the UK and the EU would benefit from implementation periods to adjust in a smooth and orderly way to new arrangements. It would help both sides to minimise unnecessary disruption if we agree this principle early in the process.”
The letter also stressed that particular attention must be paid to “the UK’s unique relationship with the Republic of Ireland and the importance of the peace process in Northern Ireland”.
“The Republic of Ireland is the only EU member state with a land border with the United Kingdom,” said the Prime Minister. “We want to avoid a return to a hard border between our two countries, to be able to maintain the Common Travel Area between us, and to make sure that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU does not harm the Republic of Ireland. We also have an important responsibility to make sure that nothing is done to jeopardise the peace process in Northern Ireland, and to continue to uphold the Belfast Agreement.”
Click here to see more information on the Prime Minister’s letter to the European Council President.
