UK EU Research Articles

Criminal Justice and Global Public Goods

This article places sharing forensic biometric data for international criminal justice cooperation purposes within the domain of global public goods. Such cooperation is a rational response to globalisation, but faces several obstacles. These range from sociocultural and political concerns about national legal and criminal justice autonomy to the potential impact of market fundamentalism on scientific standardisation and cooperation mechanism delivery. The significance of such inhibitors will vary as societal and personal perceptions of stability change. These issues are examined by analysing the progress achieved with the EU Prüm forensic biometric data exchange model. Shocks to European stability, such as the increased scale of terrorist crimes and the UK EU referendum result will inevitably test the resilience of Prüm. Combining insights from global public goods and criminal law scholarship, however, may help to identify how reactions to such shocks, including questions about future UK participation in Prüm, might be managed.

Brexit: (Not) another Lehman moment for banks?

We analyze the stock and CDS market reactions around the UK's EU membership referendum (“Brexit”) on June 23, 2016, and the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy filing on September 15, 2008. We find that the short-run drop in stock prices to the Brexit announcement was more pronounced than to Lehman's bankruptcy, particularly for EU banks. Additionally, for EU banks, a large increase in CDS spreads can be observed. Yet, compared to the Lehman bankruptcy filing, this increase is still relatively small. For non-EU banks, we observe neither significant stock nor CDS price reactions.

Brexit: A storm in a teacup?

The unexpected Leave vote in the UK's EU membership referendum left global markets reeling, but is the UK renewables industry safe? Rachel Parkes reports.

Testing the limits: Ryanair/Aer Lingus and the boundaries of merger control

Between the summer of 2007 and the autumn of 2015 Ryanair made repeated and determined attempts either to acquire the entirety of Aer Lingus or to defend the acquisition of a minority shareholding in the company. Aer Lingus in turn made repeated and determined efforts to defend itself against an unwanted acquisition. The litigation ceased only at the point where an alternative bid for Aer Lingus was accepted. During this process the difference in the ability of the EU and Member States to exercise control over minority shareholding acquisitions was thrown into sharp relief, and the UK courts discussed the relationship between the exercise of UK merger control and EU merger control. This article explores various aspects of this chain of decisions and litigation.

Brexit: What now for nurses?

The NHS was at the centre of some of the most heated arguments during the run-up to the EU referendum. There were claims and counterclaims about how much money could be diverted from the UK's EU contributions to support it, and concerns about how it could manage without EU staff.

Back to the Future - The UK's EU Exit and the Conflict of Laws

On 23 June 2016, the UK electorate will vote whether to remain in or leave the EU. A decision to leave would have a very significant effect on the UK's civil justice system and, in particular, on the rules of private international law applied to dispute resolution in a cross-border context. It is a highly speculative exercise to predict the future shape of private international law in the UK in these circumstances. The object of this paper is not to predict the future course of private international law in the United Kingdom, but to analyse legal events of the past and to assess the position in which the UK would find itself if there should be a vote to leave. The main focus of the discussion is an attempt to identify the legal baseline of applicable private international law rules under international, EU and national law following withdrawal, with a particular emphasis on the domain currently occupied by the instruments applicable to civil and commercial matters (Brussels I, Lugano, Rome I, Rome II).

Brexit: Breaking Away – Would it Pay?

SummaryIn the event of a Brexit the UK would have to redefine its trade relationship with the EU and develop its own agricultural policy. We analyse the impacts of a UK–EU Free Trade Arrangement (FTA); a WTO MFN tariff rates scenario; and a UK Trade Liberalisation scenario (UK TL). In each scenario the effects of three different levels of direct payments to farmers are estimated: current levels, 50 per cent reduction and no direct payments. In the FTA and WTO scenarios, UK prices for agricultural products would increase due to the higher trade facilitation costs and the UK's loss of access to EU preferential import regimes, with positive impacts on producers but negative on consumers or users. In the UK TL scenario, prices for animal products tend to decline, while crop prices show an increase relative to the status quo. The effects on farm incomes reflect these changes in prices but incomes ultimately are strongly dependent on choice of agricultural policy with regard to direct payments. Full abolition of direct payments generally more than offsets the positive effects of output price increases on farm incomes. Direct payments of 50 per cent of current levels have more diverse impacts on farm incomes.

Viewpoint: No 'Brexit' from the Eurocodes

Whatever the outcome of the UK's EU referendum on 23 June, the structural Eurocodes are here to stay, believes former Institution President, David Nethercot.

A spin of the wheel? Defence procurement and defence industries in the Brexit debates

Whether a ‘Brexit’ would threaten the United Kingdom's national security has become a central theme in the run-up to the in/out referendum on EU membership. Although national security has been a central facet of both the ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ campaigns thus far, there has been little mention of the implications of a Brexit for UK defence industries or defence procurement, let alone formal debate or analysis. The article addresses this gap by analysing the potential implications of a Brexit for defence procurement and industries in the UK and the EU member states. The first section analyses the policy context for a Brexit by exploring existing levels of EU defence procurement integration in the UK's and Europe's defence industries. The second section draws on Jozef Batora's ‘institutional logics’ framework to identify two pro-Brexit and two pro-Remain narratives, each employing differing assumptions on the relative benefits of national sovereignty and closer EU integration The final section analyses the way in which these ‘logics’ or narratives will be deployed by their advocates in the run-up to the UK's EU referendum. The article concludes that the national security battleground in the 2016 referendum will be fought over competing narratives and arguments, partly because there is a dearth of data and evidence concerning UK and EU defence procurement and industries, which renders this crucial area of national security vulnerable to the politics of spin.

Derivation of the clinical grade human embryonic stem cell line RCe016-A (RC-12)

The human embryonic stem cell line RCe016-A (RC-12) was derived under quality assured compliance with UK regulations, EU Directives and International guidance for tissue procurement, processing and storage according to good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards. The cell line was derived from a cryopreserved blastocyst stage embryo voluntarily donated as surplus to fertility requirements following informed consent. RCe016-A (RC-12) shows normal pluripotency marker expression and differentiation to three germ layers in vitro. Karyology revealed a mixed male karyotype at early passage (P15), which resolved as normal 46XY by passage 33. Microsatellite PCR identity, HLA and blood group typing data is available.

Migration, Internal Security and the UK's EU Membership

AbstractA key part of the debate about the UK's membership of the EU is concern about levels of migration and the impact upon security. This paper assesses how much impact EU membership has on each of these issues, and examines the likely impact of leaving the EU in each of these areas.

Detached, Hostile, Adaptable and Liberalising: The Chameleon Qualities of the UK's Relationship with EU Social Policy

AbstractIn this article, we review the EU's significance for social policies in the UK. The EU has a limited legal role or institutional capacity to directly regulate the social policies of its member states. This role is even more limited in the case of non‐eurozone countries. There are a handful of EU policy measures which have had effects on social policy in the UK. However, these effects have not changed the institutional arrangements for making, organising and delivering social policy, which remain firmly in the hands of UK governments. In consequence, a ‘Leave’ or ‘Remain’ result has relatively limited implications for social policy, except in the case of specific social groups: notably for UK and other EU nationals who have lived and worked in at least one other EU country. Other EU legislation and regulation is compatible with the current and historical policy preferences of UK governments and political parties.

Scotland at the Crossroads: From Brexit to Neverrendum

This article aims to describe the possible variants of the course of events after Brexit, from a Scottish perspective. Three dimensions are taken into the account: future model of UK–EU relations, symmetry of Brexit inside the UK and possibility of the second independence referendum in the near future (less than five years). These dimension have allowed to distinguish three main variants of further development, that are in short named by the author as: passive variant, Scottish exception and another referendum. It seems at this point that the Scottish Government is bound to carry out the second referendum, especially if the British government chooses a variant of the so-called hard Brexit. The European argument, which is so often used by Sturgeon in political debate does not necessarily lead to an increase in support for the independence, especially when eventual membership in the European Union of an independent Scotland is burdened with so many question marks.

The UK's EU referendum: implications for GI nurses

The UK's EU referendum: implications for GI nurses

The UK and Reform of the EU: Need for Eternal Vigilance

As the government of the United Kingdom prepares itself for negotiations with the European Union for a significant rebalancing of the relationship between the EU and its member states, the letter addressed by the prime minister of the UK to the president of the European Council has been seen as a document of some importance. The author argues that this letter, and a speech from the prime minister which followed it, deserve close study given their far-reaching implications for the future of UK–EU ties. The article also underlines the importance of eternal vigilance on the part everyone involved in the negotiating process.

The UK Financial Sector and EU Integration after Brexit: The Issue of Passporting

The UK Financial Sector and EU Integration after Brexit: The Issue of Passporting

Survey of knowledge of legal highs (novel psychoactive substances) amongst London pharmacists

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine pharmacists’ knowledge of legal highs (novel psychoactive substances (NPS)). Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was handed out at two London pharmacist continuing education events in mid-2014. These events update pharmacists about developments of interest/relevance to the profession and to improve their practice. A total of 54 forms were returned; a response rate of 26 percent. Findings – Most pharmacists had poor knowledge of NPS and many considered that NPS were not important to their work, with few having had to advise customers in this area. Despite this, the majority thought that they had insufficient information about NPS. There was a negative correlation between the age of the pharmacist and knowledge of NPS. Research limitations/implications – The sample is a self-selected one drawn from registered pharmacists working in community pharmacies in northwest London, and thus does not include hospital pharmacies. Self-selection means that respondents may only reflect those who are interested in the NPS phenomenon and not the wider pharmacy community. The geographical area covered may not be representative of London as a whole, or indeed other parts of the UK or other EU countries. Practical implications – It is clear that pharmacists do not know much about NPS but would like to know more. This information might improve their practice. Social implications – Pharmacists, easier to see than general practitioners, could be a useful source of information for NPS misusers. Originality/value – There have been no previous attempts to gauge the level of knowledge by pharmacists of legal highs/NPS in the UK or elsewhere to our knowledge.

Anthea Tinker, Leonie Kellaher, Jay Ginn and Eloi Ribe, The Status of Housing Provisions for Older Adults in the UK and Other EU Countries, Assisted Living Innovation Platform: Scoping Report for the Long Term Care Revolution SBRI Challenge, Institute of Gerontology, Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine, King's College, London, 2013, 84 pp., free and available online only, ISBN

Anthea Tinker, Leonie Kellaher, Jay Ginn and Eloi Ribe, The Status of Housing Provisions for Older Adults in the UK and Other EU Countries, Assisted Living Innovation Platform: Scoping Report for the Long Term Care Revolution SBRI Challenge, Institute of Gerontology, Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine, King's College, London, 2013, 84 pp., free and available online only, ISBN

To be or not to be in Europe: is that the question? Britain's European question and an in/out referendum

The idea of holding an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union has increasingly become a norm of British politics, an act seen as a necessary step for the country to answer what David Cameron described as the ‘European question in British politics’. A referendum, it is hoped, will cleanse British politics of a poisonous debate about Europe and democratically sanction a new stable UK–EU relationship, whether the UK stays in or leaves. Such hopes expect more of a referendum than it can provide. The European question is a multifaceted one and whatever the result of a referendum it is unlikely to address underlying questions that will continue to cause problems for UK–EU relations and Britain's European debate. A referendum can be a step forward in better managing the relationship and debate, but it is only that: a single step, after which further steps will be needed. Coming to terms with the European question and bringing stability to Britain's relations with the EU—whether in or outside the EU—will require comprehensive, longer-term changes which a referendum can help trigger but in no way guarantee.

What do we know about medical tourism? A review of the literature with discussion of its implications for the UK National Health Service as an example of a public health care system.

Medical tourism is a growing phenomenon. This review of the literature maps current knowledge and discusses findings with reference to the UK National Health Service (NHS). Databases were systematically searched between September 2011 and March 2012 and 100 papers were selected for review. The literature shows specific types of tourism depending on treatment, eg, dentistry, cosmetic, or fertility. Patient motivation is complex and while further research is needed, factors beyond cost, including availability and distance, are clearly important. The provision of medical tourism varies. Volume of patient travel, economic cost and benefit were established for 13 countries. It highlights contributions not only to recipient countries' economies but also to a possible growth in health systems' inequities. Evidence suggests that UK patients travel abroad to receive treatment, complications arise and are treated by the NHS, indicating costs from medical travel for originating health systems. It demonstrates the importance of quality standards and holds lessons as the UK and other EU countries implement the EU Directive on cross-border care. Lifting the private-patient-cap for NHS hospitals increases potential for growth in inbound medical tourism; yet no research exists on this. Research is required on volume, cost, patient motivation, industry, and on long-term health outcomes in medical tourists.