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The European Commission has issued a warning to governments, businesses and citizens in the 27 remaining EU states to prepare for \u201csignificant disruption\u201d as a result of Brexit.<\/p>\nThe European Commission has issued a warning to governments, businesses and citizens in the 27 remaining EU states to prepare for \u201csignificant disruption\u201d as a result of Brexit.<\/p>\n
Brussels officials said a no-deal cliff-edge withdrawal in March 2019 cannot be ruled out, and warned that \u201cpreparation must therefore be stepped up immediately at all levels and taking into account all possible outcomes\u201d.<\/p>\n
It comes after the Government announced that it will produce around 70 \u201ctechnical notices\u201d over the coming weeks, setting out necessary preparations in the UK for a possible EU exit without agreement.<\/p>\n
And top Whitehall mandarins warned MPs of \u201chorrendous consequences\u201d if a cliff-edge withdrawal was accompanied by \u201cspiteful or ignorant\u201d behavior on either side.<\/p>\n
The chief executive of the Civil Service, John Manzoni, told the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee: \u201cWe will be ready for a no-deal Brexit. Not everything will be perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he warned: \u201cWe have to prepare in the event that there are either spiteful or ignorant or whatever activities by third parties.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat obviously makes it very uncomfortable and some horrendous consequences, and that\u2019s what we have got to try and do our best to mitigate against.\u201d<\/p>\n
Customs chiefs told Parliament that introducing Prime Minister Theresa May\u2019s favored Facilitated Customs Arrangements at borders and ports could alone add extra costs of \u00a3700 million a year on business.<\/p>\n
Jim Harra, of HM Customs and Excise, told the House of Lords EU External Affairs Committee that the additional cost would arise because traders would have to work out which of two different tariff rates they need to pay on each cross-border movement.<\/p>\n
Mrs May was making her first visit to the Irish border since the referendum, amid growing signs of unrest on the Conservative backbenches over her Chequers plans for post-Brexit relations with the EU.<\/p>\n
Shipley MP Philip Davies became the third Tory to declare publicly that he has submitted a letter of no confidence in her leadership, saying he had lost trust in her ability to deliver Brexit.<\/p>\n
The European Commission released its report as Dominic Raab made his first visit to Brussels as Brexit Secretary for talks with chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier.<\/p>\n
Answering MPs\u2019 questions in the House of Commons before setting off to the Belgian capital, Mr Raab said he was \u201crelentlessly and unflinchingly\u201d focused on getting \u201ca win-win deal good for this country and good for our European friends\u201d.<\/p>\n
The 16-page Commission document warned of the possibility of long queues at borders and ports, disruption to planes and new restrictions on data transfers.<\/p>\n
A no-deal Brexit could mean \u201csignificant delays\u201d to transport and a \u201csignificant drawback\u201d for trade, while UK individuals and organisations could suddenly become ineligible to apply for EU grants and bid for EU contracts, it said.<\/p>\n
Products may require new authorizations and certifications, while professionals may need to have their qualifications recognized by an EU27 state as well as the UK.<\/p>\n
The Commission insisted that its advice to undertake contingency planning for the worst possible scenario was not \u201ca sign of mistrust in the negotiations\u201d, which are supposed to deliver a withdrawal agreement and a political declaration on future relations by October.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Commission is devoting very significant resources and committing great efforts to achieve an agreement,\u201d it said. \u201cThis remains our goal. However, the outcome of negotiations cannot be predicted.\u201d<\/p>\n
With or without an agreement, UK withdrawal will have \u201cvery real\u201d consequences for citizens, businesses and professionals across Europe, and they cannot afford to wait until after March 29 2019 to get ready, it said.<\/p>\n
After a fortnight of turmoil, including the resignations from Mrs May\u2019s Cabinet of Boris Johnson and Mr Raab\u2019s predecessor, David Davis, former Downing Street joint chief of staff Nick Timothy described the situation as \u201cdeeply depressing\u201d.<\/p>\n
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Timothy said that if Britain leaves the EU in \u201cchaos\u201d or does not leave the bloc at all, \u201ca national humiliation greater than Suez awaits\u201d.<\/p>\n
The PM is expected to hold a series of meetings with grassroots Tories over the summer in a bid to boost support for her Brexit stance.<\/p>\n