Reed Smith LLP

Prime Minister Theresa May’s letter invoking the use of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty confirmed that, as well as withdrawing from the European Union (the “EU”), Brexit also will involve the UK withdrawing from certain key pan-EU initiatives, including the European Atomic Community (“Euratom”). The UK’s membership of Euratom is governed by the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Community 1957 (the “Euratom Treaty”). Euratom, whilst a separate legal entity from the EU is governed by the EU’s institutions, including the European Commission and the European Court of Justice. In addition, the Euratom Treaty cross-references to the Treaty on the European Union (the “TEU”), as well as the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (the “TFEU”), through references made in Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty to various articles in the TEU and the TFEU.1 Consequently, the EU and Euratom are very much closely intertwined with each other, and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU would seem to necessitate the simultaneous withdrawal from Euratom.

In this article we consider what implications Brexit could have for current and potential ASEAN investors in the UK. We also consider whether it is likely that, going forward, the UK and ASEAN will enter into free trade agreements and the implications of such agreements.

On 28 November, the UK Government confirmed that it is proceeding with preparations to ratify the Unified Patent Court Agreement. This is an essential part of the process needed to realise the Unified Patent Court. Businesses around the world should now urgently restart their European patent strategy planning.

In her evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on 24 October, Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”) Karen Bradley MP called out the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) as an example of EU law that the government would opt into.