In 2017, the UK, Scottish and Welsh Governments agreed they would need to manage policy divergence between the different parts of the UK in some areas covered by EU law.
They agreed to establish common frameworks on the basis of set criteria. These criteria included enabling the functioning of the UK internal market, while acknowledging policy divergence; ensuring compliance with international obligations; and ensuring the UK can negotiate, enter into and implement new international agreements, including trade agreements.
This briefing summarises developments to early July 2020, considering:
- the progress of the common frameworks programme;
- how common frameworks could interact with UK international obligations and the UK internal market; and
- how law and policy have developed in policy areas where common frameworks are planned, including the development of interim arrangements.
This briefing charts the developments that took place before the publication of the UK Government’s internal market white paper. We will publish a second briefing which looks in more detail at the internal market proposals themselves.
Common frameworks, the UK internal market and international obligations: Overview (PDF, 283KB)
Article by Lucy Valsamidis and Sara Moran, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
