EEA meaning

The auto-enrolment duty Since 1 October 2012, at their staging date employers must auto‑enrol eligible jobholders into a qualifying pension scheme, allow opt‑outs, pay minimum contributions, and re‑enrol every three years. They also had to identify their staging date, workers, and scheme. Identifying the staging date PAYE 120,000+: from 1 October 2012. Under 120,000: 1 Nov 2012 to 1 Apr 2017. PAYE first payable Apr 2012–Sep 2017: 1 May 2017 to 1 Feb 2018. On/after 1 Oct 2017: first worker’s start date. DB or hybrid schemes could defer to 1 Oct 2017. Staging could be moved, and auto‑enrolment postponed up to three months. Who needs to be enrolled automatically? Eligible jobholders work (or ordinarily work) in Great Britain under a worker’s contract, are 22 to under State Pension age, and have qualifying earnings above the earnings trigger. What type of pension scheme can be used? ...

NOTE: This archived timetable outlines the usual sequence for a merger under The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/297, before those regulations were revoked at the end of the Brexit implementation period... Background The European framework governing combinations between companies in different EEA member states stems from Directive 2005/56/EC, the Directive on Cross-Border Mergers of Limited Liability Companies (Directive). The UK gave effect to the Directive through The Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007, SI 2007/2974, as subsequently amended by SI 2008/583, SI 2011/1606 and SI 2015/180 (together, the Cross-Border Mergers Regulations). Beyond setting out a merger mechanism, the Cross-Border Merger Regulations also regulate employee participation arrangements (see Employee participation arrangements below). The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (Code) applies in the usual manner and on the normal basis where at least one party to the merger falls within the Code’s scope. The Takeover Panel (Panel) has issued a practice statement offering practical guidance on how the Code operates in cross-border merger scenarios. For more detailed information,...

This Checklist summarises guidance on pursuing a ‘UK GDPR claim’. It draws on the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation, Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (UK GDPR), together with the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) legislation. Where the EU has jurisdiction, proceedings are governed by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (EU GDPR). UK data protection rules—most notably Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (UK GDPR)—originate to a large extent from EEA data protection frameworks and, as a result, generally rest on comparable principles, although some provisions differ slightly in detail. In the UK, ‘assimilated law’ denotes retained EU law (REUL) that continues to have effect after the end of 2023 and remains in force, for example the UK GDPR legislation. Re-labelling REUL (and related terminology) as assimilated law signals a shift in its status and handling in UK law, in practice, meaning it is now generally construed by reference to ordinary domestic legal standards and principles...

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (EU GDPR) Is directly applicable and fully enforceable across EU and EEA states. This Flowchart centres on personal data breach notification under the EU GDPR...

Antitrust Commission issues SO to Meta over WhatsApp AI access limits; flags possible interim measures The Commission has delivered a statement of objections to Meta, outlining its preliminary assessment that Meta blocked third-party artificial intelligence (AI) assistants from accessing and engaging with users on WhatsApp, infringing Article 102 TFEU (AT.41034). The Commission considers that Meta’s behaviour risks preventing competitors from entering or growing in the rapidly expanding market for general-purpose AI assistants and has therefore indicated its intention to impose interim measures (subject to Meta’s rights of defence) to avoid serious and irreparable harm to competition. Background On 15 October 2025, Meta announced changes to its WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, effectively prohibiting third-party general-purpose AI assistants from the platform. Consequently, from 15 January 2026, Meta’s own assistant, Meta AI, has been the only AI assistant available on WhatsApp. On 4 December 2025, the Commission opened formal proceedings to examine whether this policy shift amounts to an abuse of dominance. The investigation covers the EEA, excluding Italy, where...

Antitrust Commission launches Article 101 investigation in derivatives markets The Commission has opened a probe under Article 101 TFEU into possible coordination involving Deutsche Börse and Nasdaq Inc concerning the listing, trading and clearing of financial derivatives markets across the EEA (Case AT.40945)...

In this issue: Energy efficiency and buildings Energy for environmental lawyers Environmental enforcement and prosecutions ESG and sustainability Hazardous substances and chemicals Nature, biodiversity and habitat conservation Waste Waste producer responsibility regimes Water, flooding and drainage Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Latest Q&A Energy efficiency and buildings The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has issued its 2025 post‑implementation review (PIR) of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/1643). Using Phase 3 compliance notifications from the Environment Agency, together with unpublished interim data from Phase 3 action plans, and building on the 2020 PIR, it recommends holding off any major amendments to the ESOS Regulations until a full evaluation ends in May 2026, after which a comprehensive PIR will be completed. The research evaluates how energy audits and reporting identify and deliver energy efficiency savings across organisations. See: LNB News 14/08/2025 6...

As of 31 January 2020, the UK left the EU and the EEA. This Practice Note introduces: the General Data Protection Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (EU GDPR) framework (which applied within UK law up to the end of the Brexit implementation period—11 pm UK time on 31 December 2020—and continues to operate across the EEA; therefore, any references in this Practice Note to EEA or EU states should be read as also covering the UK until that period concluded) the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation, Retained Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (UK GDPR) framework (which applies under UK law from the end of the Brexit implementation period) Where there is no need to draw a distinction, this Practice Note refers to both as ‘GDPR’ for ease. When looking at the routine processing of personal data, the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) should be consulted together, as both sets of provisions have direct effect. Practitioners will generally...

ARCHIVED: This archived Practice Note outlines and summarises the data protection regime in place before 25 May 2018 and describes the position under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA 1998). It is supplied for background purposes only and therefore is not kept up to date. The Note deals specifically with the DPA 1998’s applicability and territorial reach. When assessing whether the DPA 1998 applies, consider the following key points: the nature of the data being processed—the DPA 1998 strictly applies only to processing of personal data; other information (eg statistical material or data that does not relate to an identifiable person) is outside scope where the data controller is established—the DPA 1998 applies only to data controllers established in the UK who process personal data in the context of that establishment...

CASE HUB ARCHIVED —this archived case hub sets out the position as at the judgment dated 1 February 2024; it is no longer being actively maintained. See the timeline. Case facts Outline Appeals were brought against the General Court’s judgment in Case T-691/14, which partly upheld an action seeking annulment of the Commission’s decision imposing a fine on Scania for an alleged cartel in the market for medium-duty trucks (AT.39824). Outcome On 1 February 2024, the Court of Justice delivered its judgment, dismissing the appeal in its entirety...

[ insert name of company ] plc (Registered in [ insert country of incorporation ] with number [ insert company number ]) [ insert description of rights issue, eg Proposed [ insert offer ratio, eg 5 for 8 ] rights issue of [ insert total number new shares to be issued ] new ordinary shares of [ insert nominal value ] each at [ insert offer price ] per ordinary share ] This notice is issued, in accordance with section 562(3) of the Companies Act 2006, to every person whose name appears on the register at the close of business on [ insert date ] (the Rights Issue Record Date) as a holder of ordinary shares of [ insert nominal value ] each (the Ordinary Shares) in [ insert name of company ] plc (the Company) who does not have a registered address in the UK or an EEA State and has...

Parties This Agreement is executed on [ date ] [ insert name of party ] [ of OR a company incorporated in England and Wales under number [ insert registered number ] with its registered office at ] [ insert address ] ( Manufacturer ); and [ insert name of party ] [ of OR a company incorporated in [ country ] under number [ insert registered number ] with its registered office at ] [ insert address ] ( Distributor ); Each of the Manufacturer and the Distributor is a party, and together they constitute the parties. Background (A) The Manufacturer produces [ and supplies ] the Products. (B) The Distributor has agreed to distribute [ and support ] the Products on [ an exclusive OR a shared exclusive ] basis in the Territory, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement...

This Agreement is entered into on [ date ]. Parties [ insert name of party ] [ of OR a company incorporated in England and Wales under number [ insert registered number ] whose registered office is at ] [ insert address ] (Manufacturer); [ insert name of party ] [ of OR a company incorporated in [ country ] under number [ insert registered number ] whose registered office is at ] [ insert address ] (Distributor); Each of the Manufacturer and the Distributor is a party, and together they are the parties. Background (A) The Manufacturer produces [ and supplies ] the Products. (B) The Distributor agrees to distribute [ and support ] the Products on a non-exclusive basis within the Territory in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement...

BREXIT At 11pm (GMT) on 31 December 2020—known as ‘IP completion day’—the transition/implementation period entered into following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU came to a close. From that point onwards, key transitional arrangements came to an end and wide‑ranging changes started to take effect across the UK’s legal regime. This document provides guidance on subjects affected by these changes. Before continuing your research, see: Brexit and financial services: materials on the post‑Brexit UK/EU regulatory regime [Archived]. This Q&A assesses the impact of Brexit on passporting in the insurance sector, outlines the options available to insurers to continue to access the European Economic Areas (EEA), and highlights the factors for insurers to take into account in their contingency planning. This Q&A is produced in partnership with Clare Swirski at Clifford Chance. What are the main aspects of passporting under Solvency II?...

Passporting provisions in the Prospectus Regulation Under the Prospectus Regulation, an issuer must publish a prospectus and have it approved by a competent authority when offering securities to the public in the EEA or when applying for admission of securities to a regulated market, where no relevant exemption applies. To streamline cross-border share offerings within the EEA, the EU prospectus regime provides passporting arrangements that permit companies to produce a single prospectus usable throughout the EEA, avoiding the preparation of multiple documents for separate jurisdictions. Articles 24 to 26 of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 set out these passporting provisions, stating that a prospectus approved by the competent authority in one EEA state (the home member state) can be relied upon in another EEA state (the host member state) without requiring the prospectus to be approved again by the competent authority in the host member state. As a result, a UK issuer has been able to undertake a cross-border share offer across the EEA on the basis of...

Rule 5.1.7 of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS) (CASS 5.1.7) confirms that the provisions within CASS 5.1 to CASS 5.6 also give effect, as required, to article 4.4 of the (EU) Insurance Mediation Directive (Directive 2002/92/EC), requiring that all necessary measures be taken to protect clients against the inability of an insurance intermediary to transfer premiums to an insurance undertaking, or to transfer the proceeds of a claim or a premium refund to the insured...