MEPs to limit negative impact of no-deal Brexit on citizens 

At the request of the European Parliament and the Council, the European Commission proposed contingency measures to mitigate the effects of a withdrawal of the UK from the EU without an agreement.

Contingency measures do not replicate the benefits of membership or of a transition period. They are limited in time and adopted unilaterally by the EU on the condition that the UK adopts similar measures (reciprocity).

The legislative measures being put to the vote in an urgency procedure on Wednesday in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU include:

• Continuing the European cross-border cohesion and cooperation PEACE IV programme between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland;

• Fishing authorisation for EU fishing vessels in UK waters and fishing operations of UK fishing vessels in EU waters;

• Allowing Erasmus students and teachers in or from the UK to complete their ongoing learning activity abroad ;

• Ensuring EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU 27 will keep their social security benefits acquired before withdrawal;

• Temporary measures to ensure that operators avoid full interruption of transport operations between the UK and the EU, by allowing UK freight transport and bus and coach operators to provide services between the EU and the UK, as long as the UK provides equivalent access to EU operators;

• Temporary measures to allow UK airlines to provide services between the UK and the EU, as long as the UK provides equivalent access to EU companies;

• Authorisation for the export of certain items used for civilian and military purposes from the EU to the United Kingdom.

Procedure: ordinary legislative procedure, first reading

Vote: Wednesday, 13 March