The legal and constitutional implications of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU

Abstract

As Britain has voiced her opinion on the continued membership in the European Union and expressed her wish to leave its structures, it seems essential to provide an understanding of the impact of its exit in the legal and constitutional context. The following paper aims at presenting the background to the ‘in or out’ referendum on the UK’s membership in the Union, the complexity of the exiting route, the most immediate legal and constitutional consequences of the decision as well as the possible future implications in the internal UK’s relationship between the devolved nations. The article bases on a body of papers and analyses provided by several British and foreign institutions and authors published both before the June (2016) referendum was held and afterwards and attempts to examine the kingdom’s rights in revising its deal with the European Union, the outcome of the popular vote as well as its possible implications of the new situation.