European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019
The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019, often referred to as the Withdrawal Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that made legal provision for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. The original bill was introduced to Parliament in 2017, and after numerous amendments and parliamentary battles, it received Royal Assent on 26 June 2018 as the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The 2018 Act served as the primary legal framework for Brexit.
In 2019, further amendments and extensions were made via statutory instruments and further legislative action to refine and extend the implementation date of the Withdrawal Act and to address issues relating to the Irish border and the terms of the UK's departure. The most notable of these was arguably the amendment made by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019, which specifically sought to prevent a no-deal exit from the EU. This 2019 amendment ultimately compelled the government to seek an extension to the Article 50 negotiation period, effectively postponing the original withdrawal date of 29 March 2019.
The core purpose of the Withdrawal Act was to repeal the European Communities Act 1972 (which had originally brought the UK into the European Economic Community, the precursor to the EU) and to convert EU law into UK law, creating a body of "retained EU law." This retained law was intended to provide continuity and stability in the legal system immediately following Brexit, allowing Parliament time to decide which elements of EU law to keep, amend, or repeal.
The Withdrawal Act also addressed various practical aspects of Brexit, such as immigration, customs arrangements, and the role of the European Court of Justice. It established a legal framework for implementing the withdrawal agreement negotiated between the UK and the EU.
The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 subsequently implemented the specific withdrawal agreement reached between the UK and the EU, building upon the foundations established by the 2018 and 2019 acts. These pieces of legislation collectively represent the key legal framework underpinning the UK's exit from the European Union.