Mark’s EU Week for Transport
It would be easy to overlook transport in light of the recent Brexit turbulence but UKTiE has always believed getting the best possible deal for transport is the key to securing the best possible Brexit for Britain and our EU27 partners. Next week’s UKTiE Parliamentary Roundtable on Brexit & transport in the House of Lords will provide a timely opportunity to make the case to Ministers, Shadows, MPs and Peers that we need a clear destination for all the modes in terms of where we want the future UK-EU transport relationship to be, and transport must be made a greater priority in the remaining 9 non-holiday weeks until the crunch October European summit. It’s essential Government spell out in detail their objectives in key areas such as reciprocal market access, regulations & standards, access to a skilled workforce, membership of the EU agencies, borders remaining as frictionless as possible and future rule making influence. Finally, we must not forget the all important transition deal, and the certainty it will provide for businesses and consumers, has not yet been formally agreed by the EU. We all need to redouble our efforts to overcome the remaining obstacles to its adoption.
The Government’s Framework Paper on transport together with the Chequers Agreement are a good start but we must go further and faster. So today I’ve written to congratulate Dominic Raab MP on his appointment as the new Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and invited him to address our roundtable. We look forward to working closely with Dominic and his team to secure the best possible Brexit for UK transport.
1. UKTiE Parliamentary Roundtable on Brexit and transport
A reminder that next week UKTiE members, Lords and MPs will discuss the Government’s recent publication on the Framework for the UK-EU partnership for transport as well as the Cabinet Chequers Agreement and the forthcoming White Paper in the House of Lords at a Parliamentary roundtable. In light of recent developments concerning the Government’s overarching Brexit position, this is an opportune moment for business to make the case for what we would like to see and how business and government can find a route to get there in a way that keeps business thriving, and passengers and goods moving. The roundtable will be hosted by Lord Berkeley. Speakers include from Labour: Baroness Hayter, from the LibDems: Baroness Randerson, from the European Parliament: Lucy Anderson MEP, a legal perspective from Emma Giddings, and the view from Berlin from Stefan Borst. Dominc Raab MP has been invited. Please let us know if you would like to attend the event.
2. Commission notice to stakeholders on the withdrawal of the UK and EU rules in the field of aviation security and maritime security.
The European Commission has published a notice to stakeholders on the legal repercussions for aviation and maritime security which need to be considered when the United Kingdom becomes a third country. The Commission believes that in view of the considerable uncertainties, in particular concerning the content of a possible withdrawal agreement, EU airport operators, operators providing services at EU airports and entities providing goods and/or services to or through EU airports (aviation security), as well as operators of maritime transport services (maritime security) need to be reminded of the legal repercussions of the UK’s departure from the EU.
3. Brexit uncertainty puts thousands of jobs at risk, car industry warns
Despite the Chequers Cabinet agreement, there still seems to be a hefty degree of uncertainty over the Government’s Brexit policy. This will likely not assuage any fears from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders that Brexit will put investment in the motor trade and thousands of jobs at risk. Mike Hawes, the chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said that as a minimum” to remain in the customs union with a deal that delivers “single market benefits”.
4. UKTiE has also put together the latest timetable for Brexit. We will keep this up to date as the process develops:
- 29 March 2017 – A50 triggered.
- 5 April 2017 – European Parliament adopted Brexit guidelines.
- 22 May 2017 – Brexit negotiating directives approved by Council.
- 19 June 2017 – Negotiations formally began.
- 23 March 2018– European Council agreed guidelines on the future trading relationship.
- 28-29 June 2018- European Council summit.
- 18 July 2018- UKTiE House of Lords Event ‘The Framework for the UK-EU partnership for transport’.
- 30 September 2018 – Date by which EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, wants to conclude the terms of Britain’s exit from the Union.
- 18-19 October 2018 – European Council summit.
- 6th November 2018 – UKTiE Forum, European Parliament Brussels
- 30 March 2019 – Britain formally exits the EU, following ratification of Brexit by all other member states and the European Parliament.
- May 2019 – European Parliament election.
- 31 December 2020 – End of transition period. (TBC)
UK transport in Europe (UKTiE)
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