European Communities Act 1972 (UK)
Although not specifically stated within the legislation but due to the principle of Community Law (subsequently European Union Law) having primacy over the domestic national laws of the member states which was first established though the Costa v ENEL European Court of Justice ruling in 1964 as a consequence it also became binding on all legislation passed by the UK Parliament (and also upon the UK's devolved administrations—the Northern Ireland Assembly, Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru) although none of these institutions existed at the time of the passing of the Act).Almost immediately the British government regretted its decision, and in 1961, along with Denmark, Ireland and Norway, the UK applied to join the three Communities.However, President Charles de Gaulle saw British membership as a Trojan Horse for US influence, and vetoed it; all four applications were suspended.In October 1971, after a lengthy six day Commons debate on a white paper motion on the principle of accession, MPs voted 356–244 in favour of joining the EC.Only three days after the signing of the Treaty, a European Communities Bill of just 12 clauses, was presented to the House of Commons by Geoffrey Rippon.Denmark and Ireland also joined the Communities on the same day, 1 January 1973, as the UK; the Norwegian people had rejected membership in a referendum in 1972.The European Communities Bill was introduced the House of Commons for its first reading by Geoffrey Rippon, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 26 January 1972.[9] The United Kingdom voted for withdrawal from the European Union in the referendum held on 23 June 2016, and afterwards there was speculation that the act would be either repealed or amended.[14] This was achieved when the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 was passed in January 2020 which "saved" the effect of the ECA until the end of the implementation period which was scheduled for 31 December 2020 before it was automatically repealed.
Parliament of the United KingdomLong titleCitationGeoffrey RipponChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterQuintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St MaryleboneLord ChancellorIsle of ManBailiwick of JerseyBailiwick of GuernseyGibraltarRoyal assentCommencementEuropean Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018European Communities (Greek Accession) Act 1979European Communities (Spanish and Portuguese Accession) Act 1985European Communities (Amendment) Act 1986European Economic Area Act 1993European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993European Union (Accessions) Act 1994European Communities (Amendment) Act 1998European Communities (Amendment) Act 2002European Union (Accessions) Act 2003European Union (Accessions) Act 2006European Union (Amendment) Act 2008European Union Act 2011European Union (Croatian Accession and Irish Protocol) Act 2013Repealed byReferendum Act 1975European Assembly Elections Act 1978European Parliamentary Elections Act 1993European Parliamentary Elections Act 1999European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002European Union Referendum Act 2015European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020UK membershipEuropean UnionAccessionTreaty of Accession 19721973 enlargement of the EC1975 referendumReferendum ActresultsTreatySingle European ActUK ratificationMaastricht TreatyTreaty of AmsterdamTreaty of NiceTreaty of Lisbon2011 UK Act on new EU Treaty amendmentsEU-related British ActsProposed European Constitution referendumEuropean Union Bill 2004–2005UK constituenciesMembers 1973–1979Members 1979–19841979 electionMembers 1984–19891984 electionMembers 1989–19941989 electionMembers 1994–19991994 electionMembers 1999–20041999 electionMembers 2004–20092004 electionMembers 2009–20142009 electionMembers 2014–20192014 electionMembers 2019–20202019 electionHouse of Lords EU CommitteeHouse of Commons EU CommitteePermanent EU Representatives for UKNorthern Ireland Executive in BrusselsEU Representative in LondonDepartment for Exiting the European UnionThe EuroBlack WednesdayUK budget rebateNationality lawEuroscepticism in the UKUnited Kingdom opt-outs from EU legislationMaastricht RebelsBalance of Competences ReviewWithdrawal2015 UK general election2015–2016 membership renegotiation2016 EU membership referendumVote LeaveBritain Stronger in EuropeNotification of withdrawal2017 UK general electionBrexit negotiationsImpact of BrexitFuture relationshipWithdrawal agreementNo-deal BrexitImpact on Irish borderNorthern Ireland ProtocolParliamentary votesProposed second referendum2019 UK general electionConstitutional documentsUnited KingdomcountriesTreaty of UnionActs of UnionSuccession to the Crown Act 1707Septennial ActWales and Berwick ActConstitution of Ireland (1782)Acts of Union 1800HC (Disqualifications) Act 1801Reform Act 1832Scottish Reform Act 1832Irish Reform Act 1832Representation of the People Act 1867Reform Act (Scotland) 1868Reform Act (Ireland) 1868