implementation period
(transition period) The United Kingdom formally left the European Union on 31 January 2020 (see Brexit). However, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act that came into force on that date contained an amendment providing for an implementation period of 11 months. This was conceived as a bridging period during which the UK and the EU could negotiate a new trading relationship. There was provision for the implementation period to be extended for one or two years if required, but the UK Government refused to seek an extension. Indeed, the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 prohibited it from doing so.

On 31 January 2020, “Exit Day”, the process begun by the UK’s decision to invoke Article 50 in March 2017 was essentially completed. From that date, the legal basis for negotiations between the EU and the UK became the same as that for negotiations between the EU and any other “third country”, with the same procedures being applied (Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 2007, formerly the Treaty of Rome). However, nearly all EU laws and other rules continued to apply to the UK for the duration of the implementation period. The UK remained part of the EU Single Market and Customs Union. Existing trade arrangements and travel rules continued to apply, as did the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. The implementation period ended on 31 December 2020, and from that date relations between the UK and the EU are governed by the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020.

• relevant evidence
• relevant facts
• relevant property trust
• relevant transfer
• relief
• relief from forfeiture
• remainder
• remainderman
• remand
• remedial constructive trust
• remedy
• remission
• remittance basis
• remoteness of damage
• renewal of lease
• renouncing probate
• rent
• rental period
• rent assessment committee
• rent book
• rentcharge
• rent deposit
• rent officer
• rent rebate
• rent registration