The Social Security (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) (Citizens’ Rights Agreement) (Revocation) Order 2020

This Order is made under the powers in section 179(1)(a) and (2) of the Social Security Administration Act 19921, which provide that, for the purpose of giving effect to any agreement with the government of a country outside the United Kingdom providing for reciprocity in specified matters, Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision for modifying or adapting specified legislation in its application to cases affected by such agreement.

Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the Agreement on the European Economic Area of 2nd May 1992, as amended and with its Protocols and Annexes (“the EEA Agreement”) will no longer apply as between the United Kingdom and Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway.

At London on 2nd April 2019 an Agreement on arrangements regarding citizens’ rights between Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the EEA Agreement was signed on behalf of the respective Governments2. Part 2 of that Agreement made provision in relation to social security. Article 43(2) of that Agreement provided that that agreement was only to come into force in the event that there is no agreement covering citizens’ rights between the Union and the United Kingdom under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.

The agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union which sets out the arrangements for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU (as that agreement is modified from time to time in accordance with any provision of it) is such an agreement (“the Withdrawal Agreement”). On that basis, at London on 28th January 2020, a further Agreement on arrangements regarding citizens’ rights between Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the EEA Agreement was signed on behalf of the respective Governments3 (“the EEA Citizens’ Rights Agreement”).