Foreign Policy Legislation

Legislative framework for international relations, diplomatic affairs, treaties, and overseas development assistance.

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Social Security Co-ordination) (Compatibility) Regulations 2025

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Social Security Co-ordination) (Compatibility) Regulations 2025, effective June 4, 2025, ensure the compatibility of UK domestic law with retained EU law concerning social security coordination.

Specifically, it mandates compatibility between several UK insolvency and debt arrangement acts and relevant articles of EU Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, preserving international agreements on cross-border social security and debt recovery.

The Scotland Act 1998 (Agency Arrangements) (Specification) (Recognition of Qualifications) Order 2025

This Order, made under the Scotland Act 1998, specifies functions of the Scottish Ministers related to the UK National Information Centre (UK ENIC) for recognizing UK and non-UK qualifications.

It allows the Scottish Ministers to enter into agency arrangements with a Minister of the Crown to manage this service, including contracting and fee administration.

The functions are linked to international agreements on qualification recognition, such as the 1997 and 2019 Conventions.

The Order extends to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and takes effect on July 1st, 2025.

The Aviation Security (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Aviation Security (Amendment) Regulations 2025, effective June 23, 2025, amend existing aviation security legislation.

Specifically, they remove Chapters 3 (aircraft security) and 7 (air carrier mail and air carrier materials) from Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998.

The regulations apply to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and were signed by Mike Kane, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport.

The Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station (Amendment) Order 2025

The Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station (Amendment) Order 2025, effective April 28th, 2025, amends the 2015 Order.

It clarifies the definition of "processed municipal solid waste" within the 2015 Order by including waste types specified in several EU decisions (2000/532/EC, 2001/118/EC, 2001/119/EC, 2001/573/EC, and 2014/955/EU).

This change addresses an application for non-material change, aiming for better clarity in waste processing regulations within the power station's operation.

The Energy (Euratom Decisions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2025

The Energy (Euratom Decisions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2025 revoke 37 obsolete instruments, mostly related to the UK's former Euratom membership.

These regulations also revoke legacy transitional provisions concerning environmental assessments for electricity and pipeline works.

The changes simplify UK energy law, remove redundant provisions, and align the legal framework with the post-Brexit regulatory environment.

The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2019 Syria sanctions regulations.

Key changes include updating the definition of the 'Assad regime', revising the regulations' stated purposes to include promoting Syrian peace and accountability for human rights abuses, and altering designation criteria for sanctioned individuals and entities.

The amendments also significantly reduce the scope of sanctions, particularly those limiting trade, financial services, and the aviation sector, to facilitate economic recovery in Syria.

The regulations remove obsolete provisions related to previous sanctions on the Syrian regime and replace references to 'Syrian regime person' with references to a newly defined 'Governing Authority of Syria'.

The Consular Fees (Amendment) Order 2025

The Consular Fees (Amendment) Order 2025, effective April 9th, 2025, amends the Consular Fees Order 2012.

It increases the fees for Emergency Travel Documents and Emergency Passports from £100 and £75 respectively to £125.

The Order applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and no significant impact on the public, private or voluntary sectors is anticipated.

The Multinational Top-up Tax (Pillar Two Territories, Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes and Accredited Qualifying Domestic Top-up Taxes) Regulations 2025

The Multinational Top-up Tax Regulations 2025, effective April 21, 2025, specify territories and domestic taxes aligning with the OECD/G20 Pillar Two model rules.

These rules aim to ensure multinational corporations pay a minimum level of tax, preventing tax avoidance and promoting a fairer system.

The regulations list specific territories and taxes as ‘Pillar Two territories’ and ‘qualifying domestic top-up taxes’ effective from various dates in late 2023 and early 2024, also allowing HMRC to specify additional entities through notice publication.