EU publishes its preparation for a 'No Deal' #Brexit

The European Commission has adopted a Communication outlining the ongoing work on the preparation for all outcomes of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. 

The text calls on the EU's member states and private entities to step up preparations and follows a request by European ministers from the EU-27 to intensify preparedness at all levels and for all outcomes. 

The EU insists that it is still "working day and night for a deal ensuring an orderly withdrawal" the UK's withdrawal will nevertheless cause disruption – for example in business supply chains – whether or not there is a deal.  

With deep divisions in the British Conservative Party and the recent amendments to the government's trade bill there is still no certainty that there will be a ratified withdrawal agreement in place by 30 March 2019, or what it will entail. 

The Commission's documents says that all stakeholders, as well as national and EU authorities, need to prepare for two possible main scenarios: 

1) If the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified before 30 March 2019, EU law will cease to apply to and in the UK on 1 January 2021, i.e. after a transition period of 21 months. 

2) If the Withdrawal Agreement is not ratified before 30 March 2019, there will be no transition period and EU law will cease to apply to and in the UK as of 30 March 2019. This is referred to as the "no deal" or "cliff-edge" scenario. 

The Commission has screened the entire Union acquis (body of EU law) to examine whether any changes are needed in light of the UK's withdrawal. To that effect, the Commission has adopted (and will adopt whenever necessary) specific, targeted legislative proposals to ensure that EU rules continue to function smoothly in a Union of 27 after the UK's withdrawal. The Commission has also published over 60 sector-specific preparedness notices to inform the public about the consequences of the UK's withdrawal in the absence of any withdrawal agreement.