EVENTS IN 2026
UKAEL Webinar: ‘The Changing EU Legislative Landscape: Omnibus Legislative Packages, Rationale and Constitutional Concerns‘ – 16 September 2026
The imperative to simplify and reduce regulatory burdens was the foundation for a series of Omnibus legislative packages which were put forward in the name of simplification in the Commission’s Communication on ‘A Simpler and Faster Europe’. An Omnibus proposal is a single legislative proposal that amends multiple EU laws at the same time, usually across the same policy area, the objective being to expedite policy change. There have been numerous such packages, which covered the following areas: sustainability; investments; common agricultural policy; single market; defence industry; chemicals; artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data; environmental legislation; medical devices; automotive industry; and food and feed. There are to be Omnibus packages on taxation, citizens and energy. Better regulation in terms of simplification is seen as going hand in hand with improved implementation and enforcement. The Commission’s new regulatory approach operationalised through Omnibus legislative initiatives has generated general constitutional concerns, and concerns as to its application in the particular spheres to which it has been applied, which are explored in this webinar. With Paul Craig, Niall Coghlan and Alberto Alemanno. The webinar was hosted on Teams for the first time and attracted almost 30 attendees.
Joint UKAEL/Matrix Seminar: “Miller I, Ten Years on: Resetting the Broken Conduit Pipe?” – 9 June 2026, Matrix Chambers, London
As the 10th Anniversary of the EU Referendum approached and the Government contemplated another ‘reset’ of UK/EU relations, counsel from each of the UK jurisdictions, all involved in the historic Miller I litigation, reassembled to discuss the extent to which EU law and jurisprudence had continued to be a source of UK law, ten years later and over five years after UK withdrawal, and how any legal ‘reset’ might operate in the UK courts. Conan Fegan from Northern Ireland, Anneli Howard KC from England and Wales and Aidan O’Neill KC from Scotland joined Rhodri Thompson KC to address these issues. The seminar was attended by approx 30 people and was followed by questions and refreshments.
UKAEL Webinar: “UK Regulatory Framework Post-Brexit: ‘Law Unbound’” – 18 May 2026
The Leave Campaign pressed for Brexit on several grounds. An argument that featured prominently was the desire to take back control, signifying sovereign control over regulatory domains. The passage of six years provides a good point to assess the extent to which this has occurred, and the consequences for the UK. The webinar will feature four speakers who will address different dimensions of this issue. Paul Craig provided an overview of some of the more general conclusions that can be drawn about the regulatory landscape post-Brexit. Jeff King considered the institutional consequences of Brexit with a particular focus on the implications for executive power. Chris McCrudden presented the recent important decision of the Supreme Court in “Dillon”. Niamh Moloney exemplified the impact of Brexit through consideration of financial services. Vilija Vėlyvytė analysed the post-Brexit world from the perspective of healthcare. The webinar attracted over 30 attendees.
UKAEL Webinar: “Sports Regulation and EU Law: New Developments” – 29 January 2026
Recent case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union had drawn renewed attention to the application of EU law to sports regulation. In the last couple of years, the Court had ruled on the effect of decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport under EU law (C-600/23 RFC Seraing SA v FIFA) and important aspects of the application of competition law and free movement of workers and services (Case C-333/21 European Superleague Company, C‑650/22 Fédération internationale de football association (Diarra), C-124/21 International Skating Union, C-680/21 Royal Antwerp Football Club). This webinar brought together a stellar panel to discuss the implications of this case law not only for specific policy fields but also for the overall functioning of the internal market and the autonomy of the EU legal order. With Marie Demetriou KC, Prof Stephen Weatherill and Dr Jan Zglinski presenting and Prof Paul Craig chairing, the event had over 20 attendees.
