On Wednesday 12 July, the European Parliament's coordinator on Brexit, Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, Belgium), warned that the United Kingdom could not remain a member of the European Atomic Community (Euratom) once it has left the EU, whether it asks to or not, but added that the Euratom treaty could continue to apply to the UK if its authorities sign an association agreement with the EU after its departure.
“In my view, given that in the Treaty of Lisbon, Euratom and the EU are closely linked, you cannot be a full member of Euratom and not be part of the EU, because the supervision of Euratom is part of the EU and the EU budget”, Verhofstadt explained to Parliament's committee on constitutional affairs.
He said that the UK could, in the framework of a future association agreement with the EU post-Brexit, ask to “continue to do what it is currently doing” within Euratom. “What it can't do is leave the EU but remain a full member of Euratom”, he stressed.
The question of accession to Euratom recently became one of the front lines between those in favour of a hard Brexit and proponents of a soft Brexit.
The matter will be discussed during the second round of talks in Brussels next week, the EU's negotiator, Michel Barnier, announced on Wednesday.
On Thursday 13 July, the British government published documents outlining its approach to problems related to Brexit concerning nuclear materials and safeguards, amongst other things.
“While we are leaving the EU, we are not leaving Europe, and we want to continue cooperating with our friends and neighbours on issues of mutual importance, including nuclear safeguards”, said the Secretary of State for Brexit, David Davis.
When the United Kingdom triggered article 50, which launched the process of its withdrawal from the EU, article 106 (a) of the Euratom Treaty was also invoked, as the treaties are legally connected, the UK government explains in a press release.
“While the UK is leaving Euratom, we want to continue working closely with the Euratom Community to help ensure a smooth and orderly exit and to pave the way for a future relationship that benefits the UK and the remaining 27 member states”, he said, adding that respecting its current obligations, the UK would seek to agree nuclear cooperation agreements with “key non-EU states” including the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)