UK insists on need to withdraw from European University Institute

The British government has reiterated that membership of the prestigious European University Institute is “inextricably linked” to European Union membership, despite legal scholars insisting otherwise.

Robin Walker, a Brexit minister, said on 25 February that the UK will remain a member of the EUI convention for as long as the proposed transition to leave the EU. However, he said that the UK’s membership would expire on Brexit day, 29 March, in the event of a no-deal exit. Walker was replying to a written parliamentary question tabled by Stephen Gethins, a Scottish National Party MP for North East Fife.

“The UK’s EU membership is inextricably linked to its current membership of the EUI convention…In a deal scenario the UK’s membership of this convention will continue for the duration of the implementation period,” said Walker.