The European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement) Order 2012

Made15th February 2012

Coming into force in accordance with Article 2

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 15th day of February 2012

Present,

The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

In accordance with section 1(3) of the European Communities Act 19721, a draft of this Order was laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Accordingly, Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred on Her by section 1(3) of the European Communities Act 1972, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order as follows:

1.

This Order may be cited as the European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement) Order 2012.

2.

This Order comes into force on the date on which the agreement referred to in Article 3 enters into force for the United Kingdom2.

3.

The Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part, signed on 6th October 20103, is to be regarded as an EU Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972.

Richard Tilbrook

Clerk of the Privy Council

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

On 6th October 2010, the European Union and its Member States signed the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Korea, of the other part (the “Agreement”). The Republic of Korea signed the Agreement on the same day. The Free Trade Agreement has been provisionally applied since 1st July 2011. It will enter into force 60 days after the Parties exchange written notifications certifying that they have completed their respective applicable legal requirements and procedures for ratification, or on such other date as the Parties may agree.

This Order declares the Agreement to be an EU Treaty as defined by section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. The principal effect of declaring the Agreement to be an EU Treaty is that the provisions of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 (which provide for the implementation of EU Treaties) apply to it.

A full Impact Assessment has not been carried out for this Order as an initial assessment determined that it is expected to have a negligible impact on the costs and benefits for business, the voluntary sector and public finances in the United Kingdom.