Legislating for Brexit: directly applicable EU law

Some 5,000 EU regulations apply in the United Kingdom. They largely concern technical details required by other EU legislation and are 'directly applicable' in all EU Member States - they don't (generally) need further implementation.

What are these laws and what will Brexit mean for them? This Briefing Paper explains what ‘directly applicable’ EU law is, how it applies in the UK, and estimates how many EU regulations are in force.

It is one of a series of Library briefings on different elements of the EU acquis and Brexit, and will be updated periodically.

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Legislating for Brexit: the Great Repeal Bill http://www.europeansources.info/record/legislating-for-brexit-the-great-repeal-bill/

ESO: Background information: Legislating for Brexit: Statutory Instruments implementing EU law http://www.europeansources.info/record/legislating-for-brexit-statutory-instruments-implementing-eu-law/

UK: Parliament: Parliamentary Business: Publications and Records: Research publications: Brexit: the next steps for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/eu-referendum/

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