English law

The Council of the European Union, often simply referred to as the Council, is a crucial institution within the European Union (EU) that plays a significant role in the EU's decision-making process. It is one of the EU's seven official institutions, as outlined in the Treaty on European Union (TEU). The Council works alongside the European Parliament to adopt legislation and ensure the policies and interests of the EU member states are represented at a European level.

Composition and Function

The Council is composed of government ministers from each of the 28 EU member states. The specific composition of the Council varies depending on the policy area being discussed; for example, if the Council is discussing environmental policy, the meeting will include the environment ministers from each member state. This ensures that the Council has the relevant expertise and national perspectives necessary for informed decision-making.

The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every six months. This rotation ensures that each member state has the opportunity to influence the Council's agenda and to lead discussions on key issues.

Role in English Law

The Council of the European Union has had a significant impact on English law, particularly in areas where the EU has competence to legislate, such as consumer protection, employment rights, and environmental regulation. Before the United Kingdom (UK) left the EU (a process commonly referred to as Brexit), EU directives and regulations adopted by the Council would be transposed into English law, either directly or through legislation passed by the UK Parliament.

EU regulations have direct effect in all member states, including the UK before Brexit, meaning they automatically became part of English law without the need for further enactment. EU directives, on the other hand, required member states to achieve a certain result, but left the choice of form and methods to national authorities; this often involved the UK Parliament passing legislation to meet the directive's requirements.

Impact of Brexit

Following Brexit, the UK is no longer a member of the EU and thus no longer participates in the Council of the European Union. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 repealed the European Communities Act 1972, which was the legal basis for EU law's supremacy over UK law, and ended the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK. However, EU law that was "on the books" before the end of the transition period on December 31, 2020, has been retained in UK law as "retained EU law," to ensure continuity and stability in the legal system.

Future Relations

The future relationship between the UK and the EU, including how English law will evolve in areas previously influenced by EU legislation, remains subject to ongoing negotiations and the terms of any future trade agreements. The UK's departure from the EU marks a significant shift in the legal landscape, with the UK Parliament and courts now having greater freedom to amend, repeal, or replace retained EU law.