BRUSSELS, Dec 10, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – “The United Kingdom is free to revoke
unilaterally the notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU
(European Union),” the European Court of Justice said in its judgment Monday.
“Such a revocation, decided in accordance with its own national
constitutional requirements, would have the effect that the United Kingdom
remains in the EU under terms that are unchanged as regards its status as a
member state,” said the judgement published on the website of the court.
The ruling, brought by a group of Scottish politicians, will provide a
boost to campaigners for a second referendum in Britain, who want to put a
stop to Brexit, according to Politico.
Explaining its ruling, the court said “that possibility (revoking
unilaterally) exists for as long as a withdrawal agreement concluded between
the EU and that member state has not entered into force or, if no such
agreement has been concluded, for as long as the two-year period from the
date of the notification of the intention to withdraw from the EU, and any
possible extension, has not expired.”
Meanwhile, the judgement noted that “the revocation must be decided
following a democratic process in accordance with national constitutional
requirements. This unequivocal and unconditional decision must be
communicated in writing to the European Council.”
“Such a revocation confirms the EU membership of the member state concerned
under terms that are unchanged as regards its status as a member state and
brings the withdrawal procedure to an end,” said the judgement.
The court’s ruling comes on the eve of a House of Commons vote on Prime
Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, which some European media expect would be
voted down in the House of Commons.