Brexit round-up – 31/08/18
31st August, 2018
Welcome to this, our latest Brexit round-up. Each week we provide a succinct round-up of the latest news surrounding the Brexit process, so you can keep abreast of the issues which are likely to affect your organisation.
What do the Government’s technical notices reveal?
On 23 August the Government published a total of 25 technical notices to assist businesses and citizens to understand the steps they should take in a ‘no-deal’ scenario. The first batch of notices is approximately a third of the total expected with more notices to be published in the coming weeks. BBC correspondents have unravelled some of the key details included in the first batch of notices, covering areas such as medical supplies, financial services, nuclear safeguards, farming and organic food production. The Government expects to publish all 80 technical notices by the end of September.
For more information, please click here.
Theresa May initiates Africa investment boost after Brexit
Theresa May has announced plans to boost Britain’s investment in Africa after Brexit, during her first trip to the continent as Prime Minister. Mrs May’s trip, which will see her meet the presidents of South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, aims to deepen economic trade ties with growing African economies ahead of Britain leaving the EU in 2019. During her first trip in South Africa, Mrs May signed a Joint Statement with South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini to ensure the provisions of the region’s current trade deal with the EU continue after this agreement no longer applies to the UK.
For more information, please click here.
EU citizens make first applications to obtain “settled status”
The first EU nationals who wish to remain in the UK following Brexit are submitting their paperwork as part of a Home Office trial to test the EU Settlement Scheme. According to the Scheme, EU citizens and family members who have lived in the UK for five years by the end of 2020 will be able to apply for settled status, which means they are free to continue living and working in the UK indefinitely. The Scheme is due to fully open on 30 March 2019, while the approximate three million EU residents in the UK have until the end of June 2021 to register for settled status.
For more information, please click here.
Confederation of British Industry (CBI) responds to Government’s no-deal Brexit advice
Representatives from the CBI have discussed what a ‘no-deal’ Brexit would look like in practice, what businesses should take from the Government’s technical notices and what the CBI is doing to prevent a ‘no-deal’. In particular, the discussions highlight that the CBI’s number one priority over the coming weeks is avoiding a disruptive cliff-edge in March 2019. To avoid this outcome, representatives from the CBI suggest that the following three components must be ensured; (1) negotiators resolve the Irish backstop (2) negotiators agree the Withdrawal Agreement and (3) the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified in the UK Parliament and the European Parliament.
For more information, please click here.
If you have any questions about any of the issues which are raised, or would like to discuss your own organisation’s options in the lead-up to Brexit, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
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