The European Economic Interest Grouping (Amendment) Regulations 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision in respect of European Economic Interest Groupings (“EEIGs”) formed under Article 1 of the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2137/85 (“the EC Regulation”), which provides a legal framework for groupings of natural persons, companies, firms and other legal entities to enable them to co-operate effectively when carrying on business activities across national frontiers within the European Community.

The EC Regulation is directly applicable in United Kingdom law but Regulations made under domestic law were necessary for implementation in part of the Community obligations and for other purposes mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (c.68). In particular, certain provisions are left for national law by the EC Regulation. The European Economic Interest Grouping Regulations 1989 (S.I. 1989/638) (“the Principal Regulations”) were made in respect of Great Britain and the European Economic Interest Grouping Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989 (S.R. (NI) 1989 No 638) (“the Northern Ireland Regulations”) in respect of Northern Ireland.

These Regulations make amendments to the Principal Regulations. Some of the amendments are consequential on the extension of the Principal Regulations to Northern Ireland, and the revocation of the Northern Ireland Regulations by section 1286 of the Companies Act 2006 (c.46). Other amendments replace references to provisions of the Companies Act 1985 (c.6) with references to the equivalent provisions of the Companies Act 2006. Other amendments are consequential on changes to United Kingdom company law and reflect changes made to company law by the Companies Act 2006.

These Regulations also prescribe new forms for EEIGs which replace those currently contained in the Principal Regulations. The new forms are set out in the Schedule to these Regulations.

An impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations because no additional impact is foreseen on the private or voluntary sector beyond that already covered in the impact assessment for the Companies Act 2006.