Preparedness and Contingency Plans in the European Union

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The European Commission has set up a specific directorate under its Secretariat-General that is responsible for Brexit preparedness.

Communication of 19 July 2018

  • On 19 July 2018, it issued a Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the ECB, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the EIB entitled "Preparing for the UK's withdrawal from the EU"
  • In this document, the European Commission underlines the difference between preparedness measures and contingency measures or plans: whereas the former are necessary measures for adapting to the British withdrawal from the EU, regardless of whether or not an agreement is reached, contingency plans seek to mitigate the effects of a withdrawal by the United Kingdom from the EU without an agreement and therefore without a transition period.

Communication of 13 November 2018

  • On 13 November 2018, the European Commission issued a second communication to the same recipients entitled "Preparing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 30 March 2019: a Contingency Action Plan"
  • This Communication focuses on the contingency measures (for a withdrawal without an agreement). It defines the principles that must govern this type of measures and identifies several areas that require specific action: citizens; financial services; air transport; road transport; customs; sanitary and phytosanitary requirements; personal data; and EU climate policies.

Communication of 19 December 2018

  • On 19 November 2018, the European Commission issued a third communication to the same recipients entitled "Preparing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 30 March 2019: Implementing the Commission's Contingency Action Plan".
  • This Communication further develops the contingency measures (for a withdrawal without an agreement). It specifies the measures that the European Commission will adopt and that it recommends be adopted by Member States in the following areas: citizens (residency and social security); financial services; air transport; road transport; customs and exports; climate policy; and others.
  • The communication is accompanied by a list of frequently-asked questions about the consequences of a Brexit without agreement in various areas.

Communication of 10 April 2019

  • On 10 April 2019, the European Commission issued the fourth Communication to the same addressees entitled: Addressing the impact of a withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union without an agreement: the Union's coordinated approach
  • This Communication focuses on key areas aspects on which contingency efforts have been necessary, such as citizens' rights (social security, residence rights and travel), transport (basic connectivity and safety), police and judicial cooperation, the management of the new Union external borders with the United Kingdom, fisheries and the Union's budget. It also establishes additional support for a coordinated effort following a no-deal exit, in five key areas: citizens' residence and social security entitlements; police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters; medical products and medical devices; fishing activities; and data protection.

Communication of 12 June 2019

  • On 12 June 2019, the European Commission issued a fifth Brexit communication to the same recipients entitled: State of situation regarding the preparation of contingency measures in the event of a no deal withdrawal by the United Kingdom from the European Union.
  • In this communication, the Commission stated that after examining all the legislative measures approved to ensure that the targets are being met, it reached the conclusion that it is not necessary to materially amend any measure and that they continue to suit their purpose. The Commission does not expect to take further measures before the new withdrawal date. In addition, this communication offers details on the extensive preparations by the EU-27 in such fields as residency rights and social security contributions by citizens, customs and taxation, transport, fisheries, financial services, medication, healthcare products and chemical substances.

Annex I: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:40eadc58-8dc8-11e9-9369-01aa75ed71a1.0016.02/DOC_2&format=PDF

Annex II: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:40eadc58-8dc8-11e9-9369-01aa75ed71a1.0016.02/DOC_3&format=PDF

Communication of 4 September 2019

  • On 4 September 2019, the European Commission issued the sixth Communication to the same addressees entitled: "Finalising preparations for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 1 November 2019"
  • In the Communication, the Commission repeated its call for all interested parties in the Europe 27 Strategy to prepare for a no-deal withdrawal scenario. Today the European Commission has published a detailed checklist to help companies that trade with the UK to make their final preparations. The Commission has also proposed to the European Parliament and the Council to make specific technical adjustments in the duration of the EU contingency measures for a no-deal Brexit in the area of transport. In addition, the Commission has proposed extending the 2019 contingency measures for the fisheries sector into 2020 with respect to the possible participation by the UK in the EU budget for 2020.Finally, the Commission has proposed that the European Solidarity Fund and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund should be made available to the companies, workers and Member States most affected by a no-deal withdrawal scenario. The proposals must be approved by both the European Parliament and the Council.

Legislative measures

The EU has also planned a series of legislative changes as a result of Brexit.

Preparedness notices for citizens and businesses

The EU has also published a series of legislative changes stemming from Brexit (with or without agreement) in certain areas. Almost all of them are available in Spanish.

Non official translation