UK-EU regulatory divergence tracker: second edition

Primary Author or Creator:
Joel Reland
Additional Author(s) / Creators
Jill Rutter, Anand Menon
Publisher:
UK in a Changing Europe
Alternative Published Date
Dec 2021
Category:
Type of Resource:
Report
Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)
43pp
Fast Facts

[This] provides an overview of where and how the UK has used its newfound regulatory freedoms to diverge from EU standards. It explains what the changes are, what impact they are having, and likely further consequences.

More details

This tracker shows that the ambitious rhetoric around divergence is not yet matched by reality.  Two of the biggest recent policy announcements have been the Net Zero Stratgey and the Autumn Budget, but as the tracker highlights, the UK has made minimal use of its regularotry freedom from the EU in these areas.

In fact what we see...is the consequences of previously-agreed divergence catching up with the government. The most significant cases date back to the signing of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (the ending of free movement, rules of origin requirements for goods), highlighting how divergence is a piecemeal process.   Long after a decision to diverge is made, the government is still having to develop policy and programmes to manage the consequences which only slowlly become apparent.

English