**Executive Summary:**
European Council Decision EU 2019/584, taken in agreement with the United Kingdom, extends the period under Article 50(3) TEU concerning the UK's withdrawal from the EU until October 31, 2019. The decision acknowledges the UK's ongoing rights and obligations as a member state during the extension. The extension will cease on May 31, 2019, if the UK does not hold European Parliament elections or ratify the Withdrawal Agreement by May 22, 2019.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Extension of Article 50(3) Period:**
* The period under Article 50(3) TEU is extended until October 31, 2019.
* The Withdrawal Agreement may enter into force earlier if ratification is completed before this date; withdrawal will occur on the first day of the following month or November 1, 2019, whichever is earliest.
* The extension will cease on May 31, 2019, if the UK has not held elections to the European Parliament and ratified the Withdrawal Agreement by May 22, 2019.
* **Rights and Obligations of the United Kingdom:**
* The UK remains a Member State until the new withdrawal date, with full rights and obligations.
* The UK has the right to revoke its notification at any time.
* The UK must hold elections to the European Parliament if it is still a Member State between May 23-26, 2019 and has not ratified the Withdrawal Agreement by May 22, 2019.
* The UK is expected to act constructively and responsibly and facilitate the achievement of the Union's tasks.
* The UK must refrain from any measure which could jeopardise the attainment of the Union's objectives.
* **Limitations and Conditions:**
* The extension excludes any reopening of the Withdrawal Agreement.
* Unilateral commitments or statements by the UK must be compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement.
* The extension cannot be used to start negotiations on the future relationship.
* **Institutional and Procedural Matters:**
* The mandates of members of EU institutions nominated in relation to the UK's membership will end on the withdrawal date.
* The European Council will review progress in June 2019.
* The United Kingdom agreed to the extension of the period and to this decision.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **European Union:**
* *Impact:* The EU's regular functioning must not be undermined by the extension.
* *Action Required:* Monitor the UK's actions to ensure they align with the duty of sincere cooperation. The European Council will review progress at its meeting in June 2019.
* **United Kingdom:**
* *Impact:* Remains a Member State with full rights and obligations until the withdrawal date.
* *Action Required:* Act in a constructive and responsible manner, and hold elections to the European Parliament if still a Member State between May 23-26, 2019 and has not ratified the Withdrawal Agreement by May 22, 2019.
* **Members of EU Institutions (nominated by the UK):**
* *Impact:* Their mandates will end on the date of the UK's withdrawal.
* *Action Required:* Prepare for the termination of their roles upon the UK's withdrawal.
Key Entities Referenced
European Council: A collective body of heads of state or government of the European Union, it defines the general political direction and priorities of the EU.
Treaty on European Union: One of the primary treaties of the European Union, outlining its objectives, structure, and decision-making processes. Article 50 relates to the withdrawal of a member state.
European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom): An international organization established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 with the purpose of creating a specialist market for nuclear power in Europe, developing nuclear energy and distributing it to its member states while selling the surplus to non-member states.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: A sovereign country located off the north-western coast of the European mainland, which has initiated the process to withdraw from the European Union.
Withdrawal Agreement: The agreement negotiated between the European Union and the United Kingdom, setting out the terms of the UK's departure from the EU.
House of Commons: The lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Article 50 TEU: Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union outlines the procedure for a member state to withdraw from the European Union.
Brussels: The de facto capital city of the European Union, located in Belgium, where the European Council decision was made.
11.4.2019 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 101/1
II
(Non-legislative acts)
DECISIONS
EUROPEAN COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2019/584
taken in agreement with the United Kingdom
of 11 April 2019
extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU
THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 50(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the
European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (‘Euratom’) in accordance with Article 50 of the
Treaty on the European Union, which applies to Euratom by virtue of Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the
European Atomic Energy Community.
(2) In accordance with Article 50 TEU, the European Union negotiated with the United Kingdom an agreement
setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with
the Union.
(3) On 25 November 2018, the European Council endorsed the draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy
Community (‘Withdrawal Agreement’) and approved the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the
future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
On 11 January 2019, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2019/274 (1) on the signing of the Withdrawal
Agreement (2).
(4) According to Article 50(3) TEU, the Treaties are to cease to apply to the withdrawing State from the date of entry
into force of the Withdrawal Agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification, unless the European
Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.
(5) By letter of 20 March 2019, the United Kingdom submitted a request for an extension of the period provided for
in Article 50(3) TEU until 30 June 2019, with a view to finalising the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement.
(6) By Decision (EU) 2019/476 (3), the European Council, in agreement with the United Kingdom, decided to extend
the period under Article 50(3) TEU until 22 May 2019 in the event that the House of Commons approved the
Withdrawal Agreement by 29 March 2019. If that were not to be the case, the European Council agreed to an
extension until 12 April 2019 and specified that it expected the United Kingdom to indicate a way forward
before 12 April 2019, for its consideration.
(1) Council Decision (EU) 2019/274 of 11 January 2019 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic
Energy Community, of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the
European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (OJ L 47 I, 19.2.2019, p. 1).
(2) The text of the Withdrawal Agreement attached to Decision (EU) 2019/274 was published in OJ C 66 I, 19.2.2019, p. 1.
(3) European Council Decision (EU) 2019/476 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of 22 March 2019 extending the period under
Article 50(3) TEU (OJ L 80 I, 22.3.2019, p. 1).L 101/2 EN Official Journal of the European Union 11.4.2019
(7) The House of Commons did not approve the Withdrawal Agreement by 29 March 2019.
(8) By letter of 5 April 2019, the United Kingdom submitted a request for a further extension of the period provided
for in Article 50(3) TEU, as extended by the European Council, until 30 June 2019, with a view to finalising the
ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement.
(9) On 10 April 2019, the European Council agreed to a further extension to allow for the ratification of the
Withdrawal Agreement by both Parties. Such an extension should last as long as necessary and, in any event, no
longer than 31 October 2019. The European Council also recalled that, under Article 50(3) TEU, the Withdrawal
Agreement may enter into force on an earlier date, should the Parties complete their respective ratification
procedures before 31 October 2019. Consequently, the withdrawal should take place on the first day of the
month following the completion of the ratification procedures or on 1 November 2019, whichever is the earliest.
(10) This further extension cannot be allowed to undermine the regular functioning of the Union and its
institutions. Furthermore, it will have the consequence that the United Kingdom will remain a Member State until
the new withdrawal date, with full rights and obligations in accordance with Article 50 TEU, and that the United
Kingdom has a right to revoke its notification at any time. If the United Kingdom is still a Member State
on 23-26 May 2019, and if it has not ratified the Withdrawal Agreement by 22 May 2019, it will be under an
obligation to hold the elections to the European Parliament in accordance with Union law. In the event that those
elections do not take place in the United Kingdom, the extension should cease on 31 May 2019. The European
Council takes note of the commitment by the United Kingdom to act in a constructive and responsible manner
throughout the extension period in accordance with the duty of sincere cooperation, and expects the United
Kingdom to fulfil this commitment and Treaty obligation in a manner that reflects its situation as a withdrawing
Member State. To this effect, the United Kingdom shall facilitate the achievement of the Union's tasks and shall
refrain from any measure which could jeopardise the attainment of the Union's objectives, in particular when
participating in the decision-making processes of the Union.
(11) The ongoing mandates of members of institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union nominated,
appointed or elected in relation to the United Kingdom's membership of the Union will end as soon as the
Treaties cease to apply to the United Kingdom, i.e. on the date of the withdrawal.
(12) This extension excludes any re-opening of the Withdrawal Agreement. Any unilateral commitment, statement or
other act by the United Kingdom should be compatible with the letter and the spirit of the Withdrawal
Agreement, and must not hamper its implementation. Such an extension cannot be used to start negotiations on
the future relationship.
(13) The European Council will review progress at its meeting in June 2019.
(14) As provided for in Article 50(4) TEU, the United Kingdom has not taken part in the discussions of the European
Council concerning this decision nor in its adoption. However, as set out in the letter from the Permanent Rep
resentative of the UK to the European Union, Sir Tim Barrow of 11 April 2019, it has agreed, in accordance with
Article 50(3) TEU, to the extension of the period referred to in that Article and to this decision,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The period provided for in Article 50(3) TEU, as extended by the European Council Decision (EU) 2019/476, is hereby
further extended until 31 October 2019.
Article 2
This decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.11.4.2019 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 101/3
This decision shall cease to apply on 31 May 2019 in the event that the United Kingdom has not held elections to the
European Parliament in accordance with applicable Union law and has not ratified the Withdrawal Agreement
by 22 May 2019.
Done at Brussels, 11 April 2019.
For the European Council
The President
D. TUSK