Overview

The European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 amended UK law to reflect the changes brought about by the Treaty of Lisbon, which reformed the European Union. This included updating terminology and clarifying parliamentary oversight of EU decisions.

Description

This Act primarily updated UK legislation to reflect the changes introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon, signed in December 2007. Key aspects included:

• Updating Terminology: The Act replaced references to "the Communities" with "the EU" throughout relevant UK Acts and instruments, ensuring consistency with the updated EU terminology.
• Adding the Treaty of Lisbon: The Treaty of Lisbon was formally added to the list of treaties recognised in UK law. However, provisions relating to the Common Foreign and Security Policy were excluded.
• Parliamentary Control: The Act strengthened parliamentary oversight of EU decisions, requiring parliamentary approval for specific types of decisions concerning treaty amendments and changes to EU legislative procedures. This approval process involved motions in both Houses of Parliament.
• Increased European Parliament Powers: The Act approved the increased powers granted to the European Parliament under the Treaty of Lisbon.
• Amendment of Founding Treaties: The Act stipulated that any treaty amending the founding treaties of the EU (Treaty on European Union, Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community) requires UK parliamentary approval before ratification.

Government Spending

The Act itself did not directly allocate or change government spending. Its impact on government spending was indirect and likely minimal, stemming from the implementation of updated legal frameworks and administrative adjustments needed to align UK law with the Treaty of Lisbon.

Groups Affected

• UK Parliament: The Act significantly increased the Parliament's role in scrutinizing EU decisions and treaty amendments.
• UK Government Departments: Government departments responsible for EU affairs needed to adapt their procedures and legislation to comply with the Act.
• UK Courts: The changes in terminology affected legal interpretations and court proceedings involving EU law.
• Businesses and Individuals: The changes were mostly procedural, but any new legislation arising from the updated EU framework could impact businesses and individuals.

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