Approach to the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 Trade and Other Matters Privileges and Immunities for the EU and Euratom and related organisations and bodies
Privileges and Immunities (‘P&Is’) are a standard feature of international law and are generally considered necessary for the proper functioning of international organisations. The UK has agreed, or is in the process of agreeing, to grant P&Is to three specific entities as part of its future relationship with the EU and European Atomic Energy Community (‘Euratom’), and may also be required to grant P&Is to other entities related to the EU or Euratom where an agreement is reached in the future.
	The Act amends an existing power under the International Organisations Act 1968 (‘the IOA’) to enable the conferral of P&Is on the EU, Euratom, and related organisations and bodies. This will allow the UK to implement the international obligations that it has in respect of those entities by virtue of agreements to which it (or Her Majesty’s Government) is party. The IOA currently provides only limited powers to confer P&Is on an organisation of which the UK is not a member and certain specified EU bodies only.
	As part of TCA negotiations, the UK has reached an agreement with the EU and Euratom to participate in the Euratom Research and Training programme, and as a member of the Fusion for Energy (‘F4E’) which continues UK participation in the ITER project (‘ITER’), subject to the adoption of the EU regulations establishing these programmes and the draft Protocol by the Specialised Committee on Participation in Union Programmes. As a condition of membership of F4E, the UK will need to grant certain P&Is to F4E and ITER. Such P&Is were originally agreed by all Euratom members in 2007 and their application under the TCA maintains UK practice.
	The UK is also in discussions with the EU on the long-term P&Is of their Delegation to the UK. The section will enable these P&Is to be granted to the EU Delegation in domestic law in order to implement the Establishment Agreement that is reached with the EU.