Among the 28 notices issued there are warnings about travelling and driving within the EU — including an update on the much-heralded return of blue British passports — and advice about how to handle civil legal cases that involve EU countries. They also include four notices about business regulations, such as on mergers, telecoms businesses, and public sector contracts.
UK prime minister Theresa May this morning chaired a special cabinet meeting that focused on how the country should prepare for a no-deal Brexit.
Driving in the EU
An abrupt departure from the EU could mean that other members of the bloc, at least temporarily, would not recognise British driving licenses. This would cause immediate disruption for tourists and the thousands of truck drivers who transport goods across the Channel Tunnel every day. “If there is no deal with the EU, you may need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in the EU,” the papers advise. The UK, however, will not require drivers with licenses from other EU countries to hold any additional paperwork.
Travelling to the EU with a UK passport
In a no-deal scenario, a paper on travelling to the EU warns that British citizens will be “considered a third country national,” and that their passports will need to comply with specific rules under the EU’s Schengen Border Code if they are travelling to the border-free area within the bloc. Third-country passports must have been issued within the past 10 years and have three months validity remaining.
The paper also notes that the government will start issuing long-awaited blue British passports in late 2019. “If you renew your passport between late 2019 and early 2020, you’ll be automatically issued with either a blue or burgundy British passport,” it says.
Business regulations
The government says that it does not expect significant impacts on how businesses operate under Britain’s telecoms regulatory framework, since most EU-derived rules have already been implemented in UK law. Telecoms operators in the UK would also still be able to provide cross-border services and operate within the EU, as provided for by a World Trade Organisation agreement.
With respect to mergers and acquisitions, a paper says that the European Commission will no longer investigate anti-competitive conduct in the UK, and that the Competition and Markets Authority “will be the only authority with jurisdiction to review mergers for their effects in the UK.”
Currently, under EU law, many public procurement opportunities are advertised in a centralised EU directory known as ‘Tenders Electronic Daily.’ After Brexit, a replacement UK-specific service “will be made available,” a paper says.
Mobile phone bills
It is also possible, a paper warns, that the cost of mobile phone bills could rise dramatically if mobile carriers are forced to pass on the costs of higher roaming and data charges in EU countries. EU regulations introduced last year virtually abolished roaming charges for EU citizens travelling in other member states. The paper says, however, that the the government would legislate to ensure that mobile operators “apply a financial limit on mobile data usage while abroad,” like with current EU law.
Common Travel Area with Ireland
A paper on the Common Travel Area (CTA) with Ireland, which predates the EU, confirms it will continue to operate even in a no-deal scenario. Noting that the CTA “goes to the heart of the relationship between these islands”, it says there will “be no practical changes to the UK’s approach to immigration on journeys within the CTA.” If you are an Irish citizen, you will “continue to have the right to enter and remain in the UK,” it says.
Civil legal cases that involve other EU countries
The UK currently applies EU rules to determine which country’s courts, laws, regulations and which procedures are applicable to civil cases taken within the bloc. These rules cover civil and commercial disputes, such as insolvency, and family law matters. In the event of a no-deal scenario, a paper warns, “there would be no agreed EU framework for ongoing civil judicial cooperation between the UK and EU countries.” While the UK will still remain party to international legal agreements such as the Hague Conventions, the paper advises businesses, consumers and families that may be involved in cross-border legal disputes within the EU to consider the effect of these changes.
