The Great British Opt-out: timeline

• December 2007: Lisbon Treaty signed, “Tony’s Time-bomb” planted

• December 2009: Treaty in force• January 2011: Ticking noticed; votes in both

Houses promised• January 2012: Open Europe document• February 2012: letter to theTelegraph• 14 May 2012: Cambridge seminar• 15 September 2012: CELS report

Time-line (continued)

• Late September: David Cameron in Brazil, “We’re doing it!”

• 15 October: Teresa May – “We’re minded to do it.” Daily Express “WHOOPEE!”

• 30 October: Raab report (Open Europe)

• 1 November: speech by Nick Clegg

• 1 November: HL EU Committee calls for evidence

WATCH THIS SPACE!

For further information on the implications of the Protocol 36 opt-out, see Alicia Hinarejos, Steve Peers and John Spencer, “Opting out of EU criminal law: What is actually involved?”, published by the Cambridge University Centre for European Legal Studies (CELS) in September 2012.

A link to the text can be found on the ECLA(UK) website under “publications”.