Flexcit

Flexcit is the name of a policy which involves gradual British disengagement from the European Union.[1] Its original author and main proponent is Richard A. E. North. It was the official policy of Arron Banks' Leave.EU campaign although the campaign did not get official recognition.

Summary

The central idea behind Flexcit was to see exit from the EU as "a process rather than an event", and it advocated a staged withdrawal - looking first at the Norway option of membership of the European Economic Area and a phased repatriation of powers and improved trading relationships. A central point of the policy is that a number of regulatory functions carried out by the European Union actually originate in international bodies such as the International Standards Organization and that the UK would need to still retain membership of these bodies, although with independent membership so although international regulations are kept there is greater British involvement in the drafting.

History

North was one of seventeen shortlisted entrants invited to submit a full submission to the Institute of Economic Affairs's 2013 Brexit Prize competition. Entrants were asked to imagine an 'out' vote in a proposed referendum on United Kingdom membership of the European Union and asked to compose a blueprint for the process of withdrawal, taking account of Britain's relationship to global governance and trade systems.[2] His submission, 'FLexCit', proposed that Britain should rejoin the European Free Trade Association via membership of the European Economic Area. Under the proposal, Britain would initially adopt the community acquis of the European Union, the accumulated legislation, legal acts, and court decisions which constitute the body of European Union law. North argues that under this approach to EU exit there would be very little visible consequence of Britain's change in status, either for the better or the worse. Further renegotiation of trade and governance would become a longer term option.[3] Though not a finalist in the contest, North continues to develop the Flexcit plan in cooperation with readers of the EUReferendum blog, and others.

References

  1. ↑ http://eureferendum.com/themarketsolution.pdf
  2. ↑ "IEA announces Brexit Prize shortlist". iea.org.uk. 31 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Richard North, (8 April 2014). "Flexcit: how we would actually leave the EU". eureferendum.com.
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