The people have spoken. Brexit is go. But what does the process involve?
The answer lies in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. Invoking it is the means by which a member state notifies the EU of its intention to leave. That sets a two-year clock ticking, during which the EU is obliged to negotiate a withdrawal agreement with the departing state, setting out the arrangements for withdrawal and taking into account the framework for its future relationship with the EU.
The various EU treaties by which member states are bound will cease to apply to the departing country from the date of the withdrawal agreement coming into force or, failing that, two years after giving notification of withdrawal – unless the European Council and the departing state agree to extend the negotiating period. During that two-year negotiaton period, EU laws will still apply to the UK and the UK will continue to participate in other EU business as normal, but it cannot take part in any internal EU discussions regarding its departure. The UK will not be able to vote on its own withdrawal agreement but each of the remaining EU states has a veto over the terms of Britain’s withdrawal, which means any one of the 27 could prove to be an obstacle.
On the EU side, the negotiating is done by the European Commission. The terms for a withdrawal are far from cut and dried – after all, no other country has ever decided to leave the EU – so there is no guarantee that the UK would accept them. Certain parts of the agreement may have to be ratified by every national parliament in the EU.
The EU treaties will also need to be amended to reflect the UK’s exit, which would require unanimous agreement from the remaining 27 members states.
In theory, there is nothing to stop Britain from leaving the EU unilaterally – that is, without consent – simply by the UK government repealing the 1972 European Communities Act. But doing it this way would damage the chances of future trade deals between Britain and the EU. It would also mean no transition period. EU laws which directly affect the UK would cease to be valid with immediate effect and the UK would need to pass new ones swiftly.
When Article 50 is triggered is up to Britain but the EU leadership has already said it should be “as soon as possible.”
After negotiating the withdrawal comes the even harder task of bashing out new agreements on trade and other issues, which could take another five years.
Mr Cameron will face his European counterparts at a European Council summit next week. The foreign ministers of the six founding nations of EU – France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg – are meeting on Saturday. The talking – and the exclusion – has begun.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)