In the midst of a “final countdown” in the post-Brexit negotiations, the British government has just been slapped on the fingers by Parliament.
A British report warns this Saturday on the insufficient preparation of the United Kingdom for its exit from the single European market and from the customs union on December 31, worrying about the expected disruptions in ports and the repercussions on the security.
"With only seven working days until the end of the transition period, significant concerns remain," said Hilary Benn, Labor MP chairing the committee.
"The government is still not able to tell with certainty to businesses, traders and citizens what will happen in all areas affected by the negotiations," he continued.
"The worst possible start to the year"
"Businesses exporting to the European Union will face more paperwork, unfamiliar forms and additional costs from January 1 no matter what", whether a free trade agreement is concluded or not, he warned.
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While "progress has been made", the committee is concerned about disruptions in ports, and expresses concerns for the security of the United Kingdom, which will no longer have access to the databases of European security forces .
The report stresses that the government must have “solid” emergency measures ready by January 1.
A failure of the government on this subject would mean for many people and companies "the worst possible start to the year", in an already difficult period because of the pandemic of new coronavirus, according to the opposition MP.
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He also considers that there is little time left for companies to train themselves in the use of the computerized customs declaration system, and insists on the need to have adequately trained customs personnel, and in sufficient numbers.
"If the right people are not in the right place at the right time, businesses and traders will be faced with a difficult task," notes the Commission.
Finally, MEPs note the risk of difficulties around the ports in Northern Ireland, the only British territory to have a land border with a member state of the European Union, the Republic of Ireland, despite the agreement recently reached between London and Brussels on this subject.
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