News on UPC Timetable

The Preparatory Committee of the UPC have acknowledged that it "is now difficult to predict any timeline" for the introduction of the UPC. This is because of the case currently pending in the German Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) reported here, which has prevented Germany from ratifying the UPC. German and UK ratification are still required in order for the UPC Agreement to come into effect.

The UK parliament is continuing with the ratification process. Statutory Instruments have been laid before the UK Parliament and the Scottish Parliament. The Statutory Instrument laid before the UK parliament requires a debate, for which no date has yet been set. The Statutory Instrument laid before the Scottish Parliament must be recommended, by 29 October 2017, for approval by the Justice Committee in order to be passed. If the two Orders are passed, they will give effect to the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the UPC and allow the UK to ratify both the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities and the UPC Agreement itself.