The EU Commission has published a set of contingency measures which it says will ensure “basic reciprocal air and road connectivity between the EU and the UK” in the event of no deal Brexit.
With the deadline for negotiations on a trade deal looming, and no agreement yet in sight, president Ursula von der Leyen said that “Our responsibility is to be prepared for all eventualities, including not having a deal in place with the UK on January 1, 2021”.
The Commission said that while a “no-deal” scenario “will cause disruptions in many areas, some sectors would be disproportionately affected due to a lack of appropriate fall-back solutions and because in some sectors, stakeholders cannot themselves take mitigating measures”.
To this end a set of proposed measures covering air and road connectivity have been put forward:
- Basic air connectivity: A proposal for a Regulation to ensure the provision of certain air services between the UK and the EU for six months, provided the UK ensures the same.
- Aviation safety: A proposal for a Regulation ensuring that various safety certificates for products can continue to be used in EU aircraft without disruption, thereby avoiding the grounding of EU aircraft.
- Basic road connectivity: A proposal for a Regulation covering basic connectivity with regard to both road freight, and road passenger transport for 6 months, provided the UK assures the same to EU hauliers.
The Commission said that it would work with the European Parliament and Council “with a view to facilitate entry into application on January 1, 2021 of all four proposed Regulations”.
It warned that the consequence of the UK’s decision to leave the Union was that “Disruption will happen with or without an agreement between the EU and the UK on their future relationship”.
Commenting on the proposals, director general of ACI Europe Olivier Jankovec and chief executive of the Airport Operators Association Karen Dee said in a joint statement:
“The certainty provided by the European Commission’s proposals on aviation connectivity is welcome and we urge the UK Government to publish their contingency measures to provide the industry with confidence for a potential no-deal scenario.
“However, it is exceptionally concerning that UK citizens could be subject to a ban on non-essential travel to EU member states just as the UK’s test-and-release system comes into force. This would further damage a sector battling the devastating impacts of the pandemic and hold back the wider economic recovery.
“The UK Government, EU and EU member states must work together to ensure that safe travel can continue and that our vital aviation sector can start to recover from the brutal impacts of Covid-19.”
