European Commission says it has now completed preparations in case the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 12th April, pointing out that this is an increasingly likely option.
Under the no-deal scenario, the EU would immediately apply World Trade Organisation rules and tariffs at its borders with the UK.
“This includes checks and controls for customs, sanitary and phytosanitary standards and verification of compliance with EU norms. Despite the considerable preparations of the Member States’ customs authorities, these controls could cause significant delays at the border. UK entities would also cease to be eligible to receive EU grants and to participate in EU procurement procedures under current terms.”
UK citizens will no longer be citizens of the European Union, and will be subject to additional checks when crossing borders into the European Union. “Again, Member States have made considerable preparations at ports and airports to ensure that these checks are done as efficiently as possible, but they may nevertheless cause delays.”
It highlighted a number of key transport measures, including:
– Road connectivity: allows for the continuation of safe basic road connectivity between the EU and the UK for a limited period of time, provided that the UK gives reciprocal treatment to EU companies and operators.
– Rail connectivity: ensures the validity of safety authorisations for certain parts of rail infrastructure for a strictly limited period of three months to allow long-term solutions in line with EU law to be put in place. This is, in particular, related to the Channel Tunnel and will be conditional on the United Kingdom maintaining safety standards identical to EU requirements.
– Air connectivity and safety: these two measures will ensure basic air connectivity to avoid full interruption of air traffic between the EU and the UK in the event of a “no-deal” scenario.
– Ship inspections: this aims to ensure legal certainty and secure business continuity in shipping.
– Re-alignment of the North Sea – Mediterranean Core Network Corridor: This adds new maritime links between Ireland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands to the core network, and introduces a new funding priority to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): adapting transport infrastructure for security and external border check purposes.
