All Things Legal… March 2020
Gordon Kerr EuRA Strategic Consultant Legal Services
I am no longer a citizen of the European Union …. and, like millions of others, I am currently obliged by law to stay at home. So I hope that you will understand my need to drown my sorrows with a very fine old whisky. Still, life will return to some kind of “normal” one day and I am sharing with you, in this legal update, some thoughts on employee privacy rights, late payers, bribery ….. and, of course, Brexit. As we emerge from the depths of our northern European winter, it’s lovely to think of warmer days just ahead. We know that, at a future date, an effective coronavirus vaccine will be produced. Let’s continue to be resilient and look forward to better days ahead. I think we can all drink to that! Gordon Kerr EuRA Strategic Consultant – Legal Services (gordonkerr@gklegal.co.uk)
Brexit (1) – What Happens Next?? On 31st January, EU flags came down in London and the Union Jack was folded away in Brussels. After many twists and turns, Brexit has happened. We are now in a transition phase, until the end of this year, during which time the UK will continue to observe EU rules and nothing much will change. Tricky negotiations ahead The centrepiece of the new EU/UK relationship is intended to be a Free Trade Agreement, covering all
17 - The EuRApean Spring 2020
aspects of the EU’s future relationship with the UK, such as tariff-free trade, security sharing, financial services and fishing rights. But the EU’s starting point is clear: being out can't be as good as being in. The EU will be pushing the need for a “level playing field”, i.e. measures to reduce the risk of EU companies being undercut by British firms that benefit from the Free Trade Agreement. The EU intends that there should be future rules covering taxation, employment rights and environmental policies, and government support for
companies, known as "state aid”. For its part, the UK is very reluctant to agree to any such restrictions and has legislated that the trade deal must be concluded – and transition period ended – on 31 Dec 2020. This puts pressure on both sides and may be a difficult deadline to achieve, particularly given the delays in getting negotiations underway arising from coronavirus issues. There is still a real possibility that we will be faced with a no-deal Brexit at the end of this year. Immigration
