What are the lessons so far from Brexit?

A&L Goodbody partner Dr Vincent Power’s paper describing the lessons so far from Brexit, has been published in the Irish Journal of European Law.

This paper examines some of the lessons so far from the Brexit process, under three main headings:

  • The European Union itself
  • The withdrawal process (including Article 50)
  • European Union law

The lessons learned include:

  • A realisation about the fragility of the EU project if such a politically stable and long-standing EU member state as the UK (traditionally one of the most compliant Member States) could decide that it was not worthwhile remaining in the EU.
  • The consequential need for the EU to validate itself even more with all of its citizenry.
  • The complexity of EU law.
  • The difficulties involved in withdrawing from the EU.
  • The pervasive nature of EU law.
  • Mistakes were made in the Brexit process.
  • The continued significance of sovereignty not only as far as the Brexiteers are concerned but also as far as the Court of Justice of the European Union is concerned (e.g., the Wightman litigation).

The paper is available here.

Date published: 8 January 2018