ABSTRACT
Unlike the enlargement procedure that has developed over decades, the novelty of the withdrawal process has called for speedy innovation and dynamic evolution in practice. A stark dichotomy lies in the fact that withdrawal, even though it represents the most fundamental form of rejection of the Union and its law, must nevertheless occur according to the relevant EU rules and principles. During the last few years, the terse provisions on withdrawal set out in Article 50 TEU have consequently been supplemented by various official documentation, primarily provided by the Union side in the negotiations. The aim of the present study then is to outline these ‘Brussels criteria’ on withdrawal, together with the values and principles underlining them, and to see whether the experiences of concluding the 2019 Withdrawal Agreement could be used in further contexts.
