Interpretation Act 1978

[F1 Definitions relating to the EU and the United Kingdom's withdrawal U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 1 inserted (4.7.2018 for specified purposes) by European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16), s. 25(4), Sch. 8 para. 22(e) (with s. 19, Sch. 7 para. 26, Sch. 8 para. 37); S.I. 2018/808, reg. 3(g)(iv)

• [F2 “Assimilated law”, “assimilated direct legislation”, “assimilated direct minor legislation” and “assimilated direct principal legislation” have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (see sections 6(7) and 20(1) of that Act) (see also paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 and section 6 of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023).

• “Assimilated obligation” means an obligation that—

  (a)

  was created or arose by or under the EU Treaties before IP completion day, and

  (b)

  forms part of assimilated law,

  as modified from time to time.]

• “The Communities” means Euratom, the Economic Community and the Coal and Steel Community, but a reference to any or all of those Communities is to be treated as being or including (as the context requires) a reference to the EU.

• “E.C.S.C. Treaty” means the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, signed at Paris on 18 April 1951.

• “EEA agreement” means the agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2 May 1992, together with the Protocol adjusting that Agreement signed at Brussels on 17 March 1993, as modified or supplemented from time to time, but does not include any [F3 assimilated direct] legislation. [8 January 2007]

• “EEA state”, in relation to a time, means—

  (a)

  a state which at that time is a member State, or

  (b)

  any other state which at that time is a party to the EEA agreement. [8 January 2007]

• “E.E.C. Treaty” means the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, signed at Rome on 25 March 1957.

• “Entry date” means the date on which the United Kingdom became a member of the Communities (which neither includes nor is a reference to the EU).

• “The EU” or “the European Union” means the European Union, being the Union established by the Treaty on European Union signed at Maastricht on 7 February 1992 (as amended by any later Treaty); and includes, so far as the context permits or requires, Euratom.

• “EU institution” means any institution of the EU.

• “EU instrument” means any instrument issued by an EU institution other than any [F4 assimilated direct] legislation.

• “Euratom”, “Economic Community” and “Coal and Steel Community” mean respectively the European Atomic Energy Community, the European Economic Community and the European Coal and Steel Community (but see the definition of “the Communities” for provision as to the construction of references to those Communities).

• “Euratom Treaty” means the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, signed at Rome on 25 March 1957.

• “European Court” means the Court of Justice of the European Union.

• [F5 “EU withdrawal agreement” means the withdrawal agreement within the meaning of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (see section 39(1) and (6) of that Act).]

• “Exit day” (and related expressions) have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (see section 20(1) to (5) of that Act).

• [F6 “IP completion day” (and related expressions) have the same meaning as in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (see section 39(1) to (5) of that Act).]

• “Member”, in the expression “member State”, refers to membership of the EU.

• F7 ...

• F8 ...

• “The Treaties” or “the EU Treaties” means the Treaties [F9 or EU Treaties as at immediately before IP completion day and] within the meaning given by section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 as that Act had effect immediately before [F10 IP completion day].]

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in Sch. 1 inserted (1.1.2024) by Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(6)(b) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)

F3 Words in Sch. 1 substituted (1.1.2024) by Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(6)(c) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)

F4 Words in Sch. 1 substituted (1.1.2024) by Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(6)(d) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)

F5 Words in Sch. 1 inserted (23.1.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), s. 42(6)(e)(v), Sch. 5 para. 12(a) (with s. 38(3))

F6 Words in Sch. 1 inserted (23.1.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), s. 42(6)(e)(v), Sch. 5 para. 12(b) (with s. 38(3))

F7 Words in Sch. 1 omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(6)(e) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)

F8 Words in Sch. 1 omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (c. 28), s. 22(3), Sch. 2 para. 2(6)(f) (with s. 22(6)); S.I. 2023/1363, reg. 3(e)

F9 Words in Sch. 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), s. 42(7), Sch. 5 para. 12(d)(i) (with s. 38(3)); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 5(j)

F10 Words in Sch. 1 substituted (31.12.2020) by European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 (c. 1), s. 42(7), Sch. 5 para. 12(d)(ii) (with s. 38(3)); S.I. 2020/1622, reg. 5(j)