Brexit Briefing February 2018

Dr Albert Sanchez-Graells

Press release issued: 22 February 2018

Academics from the University of Bristol Law School continue to share knowledge, debate and listen to opinion at a national, regional and local level.

Issues and Regulatory Approaches in relation to Public Procurement

25-26 January 2018: Dr Albert Sanchez-Graells was invited to speak on 'Issues and Regulatory Approaches in relation to Public Procurement' at an event organised by the Mannheim Centre for Competition and Innovation (MaCCI). The workshop tackled crucial questions and challenges with respect to the Brexit negotiations. Dr Sanchez-Graells’ presentation slides can be viewed here.

Commons report for European Scrutiny Commission cites evidence by Dr Sanchez-Graells

Evidence submitted by Dr Albert Sanchez-Graells in December 2016 has been heavily cited in a recent Commons report considered by the European Scrutiny Committee. The report states that “[p]ossibly the most substantive account to date of the implications of Brexit for UK-EU procurement, from an economic and trade, as well as a purely legal, perspective, has been produced by Dr Albert Sanchez-Graells (Bristol University)”.

The Swedish Road to Brexit?

In December 2017, the Swedish Research Council (SRC) awarded £77,790 to the University of Bristol for a three-year collaborative project, ‘Sweden and the Road to Brexit’. Professor Tonia Novitz will be the UK partner, with Petra Herzfeld Olsson (Associate Professor of Private Law and Senior Lecturer in international labour law, Uppsala University) as Swedish lead. The project will be launching soon and will focus on Swedish and EU labour laws which have had alienating effects akin to those felt in the UK. Its research will examine the impact of deregulatory policies, effects of economic shocks on workers and links to nationalism. Professor Novitz will be engaging in a comparison with the UK, exploring whether labour-related factors that contributed to the Brexit decision are identifiable in the Swedish context.

Submission of evidence to Department of International Trade

Dr Albert Sanchez-Graells submitted a recent publication ('Examining Brexit Through the GPA's Lens: What Next for UK Public Procurement Reform?', with P. Telles) to the Department of International Trade's consultation on the White Paper on Future Trade Policy, as written evidence on the UK's position within the WTO Government Procurement Agreement. This written evidence was referred to in the Government's official response to the consultation, and led to Dr Sanchez-Graells being invited to discuss post-Brexit procurement policy at a roundtable with top DIT officials on 8 February 2018.

Euroscepticism and the unfolding of Brexit

On 20 February 2018 Professor Catherine De Vries (University of Essex) presented her research on the evolution of Euroscepticism, followed by a roundtable discussion with academics from the University of Bristol, including Dr Albert Sanchez-Graells and Professor Phil Syrpis. The interactive event explored claims of shifting public opinion, the potential viability of a second referendum, as well as the implications of Brexit and Euroscepticism for the future of the EU.

Blog Posts

“Retained EU law in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill: A Reaction to the House of Lords Constitution Committee Report” by Professor Michael Ford and Professor Philip Syrpis. Also published on the UK Constitutional Law Association blog.
The Law School’s Brexit Blog was featured on ‘EU Law Analysis: Expert insight into EU law development’ by Professor Steve Peers (University of Essex), under "Guide to Brexit Sources".

Coming up:

Working in Brussels after Brexit: Lobbying, NGOs and Think Tanks

8 March 2018: Anny Bahn, an EU Refugee Crisis Adviser at International Rescue Committee with extensive experience working in the European Parliament, will be presenting on how a law degree can be used to pursue a career in Brussels. Brexit has created uncertainty for UK nationals seeking job opportunities in the European Union after exit day. However, UK nationals will still have access to numerous career opportunities in Brussels, whether as lobbyists, NGO officials, researchers at think-tanks, or Policy Advisors for MEPs, in what constitutes a job market of literally thousands of placements.

Parliament and Brexit: academic engagement

20 March 2018: Parliament’s response to the decision to leave the European Union has resulted in a huge demand for academic engagement. This seminar aims to offer practical insights into engaging effectively with Parliament. Jack Simson Caird, Senior Parliament and Constitutional Clerk at the House of Commons Library, and Elin James Jones, Commons Brexit Coordinator will offer guidance on maximising research to ensure it impacts and influences the scrutiny process during this period of constitutional and political change. Phil Syrpis, Professor of EU law, and Steven Greer, Professor of Human Rights, at the University of Bristol Law School, will also offer their reflections. Phil is currently working with the House of Commons Library on a PolicyBristol Knowledge Exchange Fellowship, and Steven has recently given oral evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

Further information

When the UK voted to leave the EU it entered unchartered territory. With virtually no area of domestic law left untouched, our experts are on the frontline, helping shape the debate and providing opinion on the diverse legal implications of Brexit. Our regular Brexit Briefings, listed on the Brexit Centre homepage, provide highlights of our Brexit activity - key events, media engagement, blogs, and other opportunities for sharing and exchanging knowledge.