International law Archives

Research Briefing

The Brexit White Paper on future relations and alternative proposals

Tuesday, 28 August, 2018

The Government published its White Paper on future relations between the UK and the EU on 12 July. It envisages a 'common rulebook' to facilitate 'frictionless' trade, and among other things, UK cooperation in security matters, a commitment to maintain high environmental, data and consumer protection standards, UK participation in some EU agencies and solutions to the Irish border issues - all underpinned by a new governance structure that will pay "due regard" to the EU Court. Would the White Paper proposals work and do they respect both UK sovereignty and the indivisibility of the EU Single Market? David Davis's 'alternative' white paper proposes a somewhat different future relationship. This paper looks at proposals in both documents.
Research Briefing

Brexit and the environment

Wednesday, 08 August, 2018

A House of Commons Library Briefing paper discussing current environmental law and policy in the UK and in the devolved nations; preparations for Brexit and potential impacts of Brexit; and actions and proposals being taken at a domestic level for both the UK and each of the nations in the UK.
Research Briefing

Brexit and European Citizenship

Friday, 06 July, 2018

When the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 UK nationals will lose their right to EU citizenship. Although the draft withdrawal agreement contains provisions that will guarantee certain citizens' rights for UK citizens living in another EU Member State and for EU citizens living in the UK, they will not guarantee EU citizenship status. There have been proposals for a form of 'associate' EU citizenship, which does not at present exist and is not being discussed by the Brexit negotiators. This paper looks at the debate and at public support for such proposals.
Research Briefing

The Ivory Bill

Thursday, 28 June, 2018

This Commons Briefing Paper on the Ivory Bill covers the Government proposal to ban the commercial use of elephant ivory, with some exceptions. It also include background information on the ivory trade, its impact on wild elephant populations and international efforts to address this. The Bill has its Report Stage in the House of Commons on 4 July 2018.
Debate Pack

E-petition 205169 relating to Parliament’s vote on the deal for the UK’s exit from the EU

Friday, 08 June, 2018

On 11 June 2018 there will be a debate on e-petition 205169 relating to Parliament’s vote on the deal for the UK’s exit from the EU. The debate will take place in Westminster Hall at 4:30pm. The Member opening the debate is Liz Twist MP.
Research Briefing

Brexit: new guidelines on the framework for future EU-UK relations

Thursday, 19 April, 2018

Brexit negotiations have resumed and this third phase will cover issues outstanding from the last phases - the Irish border in particular - and the framework for future EU-UK relations. This paper looks at how the EU and the UK envisage their relationship after Brexit.
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Research Briefing

The legal basis for air strikes against Syrian government targets

Monday, 16 April, 2018

This paper looks at the general prohibition in international law on the use of force or threat of force directed at other states, and the legal advice on which the Government decided to participate with the US and France in air strikes on Syrian government targets on 14 April.
Research Briefing

The Chemical Weapons Convention

Monday, 26 March, 2018

This short briefing paper looks at the Chemical Weapons Convention in the context of the attack in Salisbury in March 2018.
Research Briefing

Brexit: the draft withdrawal agreement

Monday, 26 March, 2018

The Commission published a draft legal text of the withdrawal agreement in February 2018 and an updated draft on 15 March. On 19 March a third text was published which showed where there is full agreement between the EU and the UK, where there is agreement in principle and where there is no agreement. This paper looks at the recent draft, making reference to earlier drafts where relevant.
Research Briefing

Brexit: who has said what about transition?

Friday, 23 February, 2018

Phase two of the Brexit negotiations has started. The EU and UK negotiators have expressed their views on the scope of and conditions for a transition or implementation period, in which the UK will not be a Member State but will continue to apply EU law.
Research Briefing

Legislating for Brexit: EU decisions

Friday, 19 January, 2018

EU decisions form a large part of EU law but have not been much debated in the context of Brexit. There are different kinds of EU decisions and they are a the main instrument in the EU's foreign policy. This paper looks at the different types of EU decisions and how the EU Withdrawal Bill will deal with them.
Research Briefing

Brexit: ‘sufficient progress’ to move to phase 2

Tuesday, 19 December, 2017

This paper looks at the path towards 'sufficient progress' in the first phase of Brexit negotiations and the Joint Report agreed by the UK Government and the EU. It focuses on the three priority areas: citizens' rights, the financial settlement and the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The paper also looks at other recent developments and parliamentary consideration of Brexit.
Research Briefing

EU (Withdrawal) Bill: clauses 9, 8 and 17

Monday, 11 December, 2017

This Commons Library briefing paper has been prepared for day 7 of the Committee Stage of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill in the House of Commons, scheduled for Wednesday 13 December 2017.
Research Briefing

Brexit: the November negotiations

Friday, 24 November, 2017

Was progress made in the sixth round of Brexit negotiations? This paper looks at what happened in the latest round of talks in each of the priority areas and at other developments linked to Brexit in the UK and the EU.
Research Briefing

EU (Withdrawal) Bill: the Charter, general principles of EU law, and ‘Francovich’ damages

Friday, 17 November, 2017

This Commons Library briefing paper has been prepared for day 3 of the Committee Stage of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill (the EUW Bill) in the House of Commons.

Total results (page 14 of 21)