Exiting the European Union (EU)
On 1 January 1973, the UK joined the European Economic Community, now the European Union. The European Union Referendum Act 2015 made provision for holding a referendum in the UK and Gibraltar on whether the UK should remain a member of the EU. The referendum was held on 23 June 2016.
	Following the outcome of the referendum, the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 received Royal Assent on 16 March 2017. On 29 March 2017, the then Prime Minister Theresa May gave notification of withdrawal of the UK from the EU under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 received Royal Assent on 26 June 2018. Its purpose was to give effect to withdrawal and to provide a functioning statute book upon the UK’s departure from the EU. Section 16 of the Withdrawal Act required the Secretary of State to publish a draft Bill to make provision for a new environmental governance body and a requirement for Ministers of the Crown to have regard to a new policy statement on environmental principles when making policy following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
	The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by Prime Minister Boris Johnson was agreed by European leaders at the European Council on 17 October 2019. In addition, the government made a unilateral declaration concerning the operation of the ‘Democratic consent in Northern Ireland’ provision of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, which was published on the same day. The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 23 January 2020, ratifying the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.
	On 31 January 2020, the UK left the European Union and the Withdrawal Agreement concluded with the EU entered into force.
	On 2 March 2020, the first round of negotiations began. A EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was agreed by the UK and EU on 24 December 2020. The European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 received Royal Assent on 30 December 2020. The Transition Period provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement ended at 11pm on 31 December 2020.