Reino Unido, Brexit y Convenio de La Haya de 2005

¿Qué pasará si se produce un Brexit sin acuerdo? Esta posibilidad, cada día más probable, inquieta al Reino Unido, porque puede acabar situada fuera de algunos convenios internacionales. Así, el Reino Unido ahora es parte en el Convenio de La Haya de 2005 sobre acuerdos de elección de foro, pero lo es por ser Estado miembro de la UE. En junio de 2015, la UE ratificó el texto convencional en nombre de todos los países miembros (excepto Dinamarca).

El 1 de abril, el Reino Unido puede hallarse en dos situaciones. La primera es un Brexit amparado por el acuerdo que han negociado la UE y el RU. Esta situación permitiría al RU seguir siendo tratado como un Estado parte en el Convenio de 2005 durante el período transitorio de retirada, que finaliza el 31 de diciembre de 2020. En el caso de que se llegue a Brexit sin acuerdo, el RU dejará de ser parte en el Convenio en el momento en que ya no sea miembro de la UE, el 1 de abril de 2019.

Parece que el RU quiere continuar siendo parte en el Convenio. El 28 de diciembre de 2018 lo ratificó, de manera que le será aplicable a partir del 1 de abril de 2019. En el instrumento de adhesión se precisa que si finalmente se produce un Brexit con acuerdo, el RU retirará su adhesión. Por tanto, estamos ante una adhesión condicionada a que entre la UE y el RU no haya acuerdo sobre su retirada de la UE.

Este es un extracto, con los puntos más destacados [texto completo aquí], de la Nota Verbal que acompaña el instrumento de ratificación depositado por el RU:

"In accordance with Article 29 of the 2005 Hague Convention, the United Kingdom is bound by the Convention by virtue of its membership of the European Union, which approved the Convention on behalf of its Member States. The United Kingdom intends to continue to participate in the 2005 Hague Convention after it withdraws from the European Union.
The Government of the United Kingdom and the European Council have reached political agreement on the text of a treaty (the “Withdrawal Agreement”) on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community. Subject to signature, ratification and approval by the parties, the Withdrawal Agreement will enter into force on 30 March 2019.
The Withdrawal Agreement includes provisions for a transition period to start on 30 March 2019 and end on 31 December 2020 or such later date as is agreed by the United Kingdom and the European Union (the “transition period”). In accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement, during the transition period, European Union law, including the 2005 Hague Convention, would continue to be applicable to and in the United Kingdom.
In the event that the Withdrawal Agreement is not ratified and approved by the United Kingdom and the European Union, however, the United Kingdom wishes to ensure continuity of application of the 2005 Hague Convention from the point at which it ceases to be a Member State of the European Union. The United Kingdom has therefore submitted the Instrument of Accession in accordance with Article 27(4) of the 2005 Hague Convention only in preparation for this situation. The Instrument of Accession declares that the United Kingdom accedes to the 2005 Hague Convention in its own right with effect from 1 April 2019.
In the event that the Withdrawal Agreement is signed, ratified and approved by the United Kingdom and the European Union and enters into force on 30 March 2019, the United Kingdom will withdraw the Instrument of Accession which it has today deposited. In that case, for the duration of the transition period as provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement as stated above, the United Kingdom will be treated as a Member State of the European Union and the 2005 Hague Convention will continue to have effect accordingly."

Agradezco la información al Prof. Miguel Checa Martínez de la Universidad de Cádiz.