European Union (Accessions) Bill

House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03
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Other Bills before Parliament

European Union (Accessions) Bill

European Union (Accessions) Bill

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, are

published separately as Bill 98–EN.

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Mr Secretary Straw has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the

Human Rights Act 1998:

In my view the provisions of the European Union (Accessions) Bill are compatible

with the Convention rights.

Bill 98 53/2

European Union (Accessions) Bill

Contents

      1         Accession treaty

      2         Freedom of movement for workers

      3         Short title

Bill 98 53/2

European Union (Accessions) Bill

    1

A

Bill

To

Make provision consequential on the treaty concerning the accession of the

Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic

of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of

Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak

Republic to the European Union, signed at Athens on 16th April 2003; and to

make provision in relation to the entitlement of nationals of certain acceding

States to enter or reside in the United Kingdom as workers.

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and

consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present

Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1     Accession treaty

     (1)    In section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68), in the definition

of “the Treaties” and “the Community Treaties”, after paragraph (p), insert

“and

                  (q)                    the treaty concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the

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Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of

Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the

Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of

Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union,

signed at Athens on 16th April 2003;”.

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     (2)    For the purpose of section 12 of the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002

(c. 24) (ratification of treaties), the treaty concerning the accession of the Czech

Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of

Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of

Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak

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Republic to the European Union, signed at Athens on 16th April 2003, is

approved.

2     Freedom of movement for workers

     (1)    The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that a specified enactment

relating to—

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Bill 98 53/2

European Union (Accessions) Bill

    2

           (a)           the entitlement of a national of an EEA State to enter or reside in the

United Kingdom as a worker, or

           (b)           any matter ancillary to that entitlement,

            applies in relation to a national of a relevant acceding State as it applies in

relation to a national of an EEA State.

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     (2)    Regulations under this section in respect of a specified enactment may apply

that enactment subject to specified exceptions or modifications.

     (3)    Regulations under this section—

           (a)           may include incidental, supplementary, consequential or transitional

provision;

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           (b)           may make different provision for different cases.

     (4)    Regulations under this section do not have effect so as to apply an enactment

in relation to a national of a relevant acceding State which has not ratified the

treaty mentioned in section 1(2).

     (5)    The power to make regulations under this section is exercisable by statutory

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instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House

of Parliament.

     (6)    In this section—

                    “EEA State” means a State (other than the United Kingdom) which is a

contracting party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area

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signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992, as adjusted by the Protocol signed

at Brussels on 17th March 1993;

                    “enactment” includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation

(within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30));

                    “relevant acceding State” means any of the following—

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                  (a)                 the Czech Republic,

                  (b)                 the Republic of Estonia,

                  (c)                 the Republic of Latvia,

                  (d)                 the Republic of Lithuania,

                  (e)                 the Republic of Hungary,

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                  (f)                 the Republic of Poland,

                  (g)                 the Republic of Slovenia,

                  (h)                 the Slovak Republic;

                    “specified” means specified in regulations under this section; and

                    “worker” means the same as it does for the purposes of Article 39 of the

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Treaty establishing the European Community.

3     Short title

This Act may be cited as the European Union (Accessions) Act 2003.



© Parliamentary copyright 2003	Revised 30 April 2003