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'We're ready no matter what': Eurotunnel all set for no-deal Brexit 'We're ready no matter what': Eurotunnel all set for no-deal Brexit
(about 1 hour later)
Eurotunnel has declared itself ready for a no-deal Brexit as it unveiled £13m of new infrastructure, including passport controls and additional border inspection posts in Calais.Eurotunnel has declared itself ready for a no-deal Brexit as it unveiled £13m of new infrastructure, including passport controls and additional border inspection posts in Calais.
After two years of preparations, often in the absence of any government direction, and the millions of pounds spent on plans that may never be implemented, its parent company Getlink said it was “ready no matter what”.After two years of preparations, often in the absence of any government direction, and the millions of pounds spent on plans that may never be implemented, its parent company Getlink said it was “ready no matter what”.
UK government hopes to hold fresh Brexit vote on FridayUK government hopes to hold fresh Brexit vote on Friday
At the launch of the additions to its 650-hectare (1,606-acre) commercial fortress in Calais, the company said it believed it would be able to guarantee no extra delays on traffic going through the tunnel into the UK.At the launch of the additions to its 650-hectare (1,606-acre) commercial fortress in Calais, the company said it believed it would be able to guarantee no extra delays on traffic going through the tunnel into the UK.
And it hopes its new infrastructure combined with more staff will mean the mandatory animal health checks needed by the EU can be easily accommodated.And it hopes its new infrastructure combined with more staff will mean the mandatory animal health checks needed by the EU can be easily accommodated.
“We do not expect any delays. We are ready. This preparation is for the worst case of no deal so that in that instance the traffic continues to flow through at the same rate as it does now,” said John Keefe, the director of public affairs at Getlink.“We do not expect any delays. We are ready. This preparation is for the worst case of no deal so that in that instance the traffic continues to flow through at the same rate as it does now,” said John Keefe, the director of public affairs at Getlink.
Under a £20m no-deal contingency plan implemented by the French government in January, the Eurotunnel site in Calais has been designated the official EU border inspection post for horses and other large animals.Under a £20m no-deal contingency plan implemented by the French government in January, the Eurotunnel site in Calais has been designated the official EU border inspection post for horses and other large animals.
It is part of a jigsaw of checks on the French side of the Channel, with British fish due to being examined in nearby Boulogne and other fresh food a few kilometres away at a third inspection post near Calais port.It is part of a jigsaw of checks on the French side of the Channel, with British fish due to being examined in nearby Boulogne and other fresh food a few kilometres away at a third inspection post near Calais port.
At the moment horses can travel freely between the three racing nations of France, Britain and Ireland as long as they have a passport and an intra-trade animal health certificate.At the moment horses can travel freely between the three racing nations of France, Britain and Ireland as long as they have a passport and an intra-trade animal health certificate.
The EU27 will decide whether to give the UK a further extension. Theresa May is hoping for an exit date in June 2019, but it seems likely EU leaders will insist on a longer one - providing they can all agree. May will arrive at the emergency European council summit on Wednesday evening without a new plan to present, following the breakup of cross-party talks with Labour. She will be asking the EU27 for a brief extension until 30 June, but without any evidence a departure deal could be made in the intervening weeks.
If EU leaders have not offered an extension, this is the date the UK is due, by international law, to leave the EU with no deal. However, the Cooper-Letwin bill in parliament has ruled this out in the UK. While some reports suggested EU leaders could agree to a brief delay, or even cut the UK loose on Friday, the consensus prediction is that May will be offered a longer extension to Brexit, perhaps until the end of 2019, or even for a year.
If EU leaders have not offered an extension, this is the date the UK is due, by international law, to leave the EU with no deal. However, the Cooper-Letwin bill in parliament has ruled this out in the UK, instructing the prime minister to endeavour to avoid a no-deal departure.
The EU will vote for a new set of MEPs. If Brexit has been delayed beyond 30 June, then the UK will hold European elections on Thursday 23 May. The Conservative party has told potential candidates to be ready to stand.The EU will vote for a new set of MEPs. If Brexit has been delayed beyond 30 June, then the UK will hold European elections on Thursday 23 May. The Conservative party has told potential candidates to be ready to stand.
Theresa May is expected to stand down after the UK leaves the EU on whatever date, having agreed that somebody else should lead the next phase of negotiations. This will trigger a Conservative leadership election. There has been some suggestion that she might hold out through the summer so that the contest takes place after the next Tory conference in October. Donald Tusk has proposed a flexible extension, allowing the UK to leave the EU at some point before a cut-off date of 10 April 2020, as soon as the UK parliament can ratify an orderly departure. Other dates that have been suggested included December 2019 and March 2020. 
Donald Tusk has proposed a flexible extension, allowing the UK to leave the EU at some point before a cut-off date of 10 April 2020, when the UK parliament can ratify an orderly departure. 
In the event of a no-deal Brexit a newly built border inspection post awaits for all racehorses and bloodstock to be physically checked in at Calais. Stables for queues of up to 20 horses are expected to be completed in the coming days.In the event of a no-deal Brexit a newly built border inspection post awaits for all racehorses and bloodstock to be physically checked in at Calais. Stables for queues of up to 20 horses are expected to be completed in the coming days.
The checks will be mandatory to guard against the spread of disease such as the recent outbreak of equine flu, which caused the cancellation of horse races in Britain.The checks will be mandatory to guard against the spread of disease such as the recent outbreak of equine flu, which caused the cancellation of horse races in Britain.
The French authorities have been performing dry runs for customs declarations and on Thursday security staff were out in force stamping specimen customs declarations forms.The French authorities have been performing dry runs for customs declarations and on Thursday security staff were out in force stamping specimen customs declarations forms.
As the British government has already said it will not be conducting any checks on goods coming into the UK, these rehearsals remain academic, but part of the meticulous planning in motion for a no-deal Brexit in France.As the British government has already said it will not be conducting any checks on goods coming into the UK, these rehearsals remain academic, but part of the meticulous planning in motion for a no-deal Brexit in France.
In the event all runs smoothly in Dover, the key risk for British business is expected to centre on animal and food exports, which will be subject to mandatory controls for disease and pests. This means 100% documentary checks on animals and physical checks for 20% of beef, pork and lamb, and 50% of poultry.In the event all runs smoothly in Dover, the key risk for British business is expected to centre on animal and food exports, which will be subject to mandatory controls for disease and pests. This means 100% documentary checks on animals and physical checks for 20% of beef, pork and lamb, and 50% of poultry.
As well as the new infrastructure, Eurotunnel also unveiled “green and orange” routes for entry into France and the EU.As well as the new infrastructure, Eurotunnel also unveiled “green and orange” routes for entry into France and the EU.
Those requiring checks will be directed on the orange route towards a border control zone involving customs, sanitary and phytosanitary checks featuring nine bays, where a truck can be fully unloaded in secure and temperature-controlled warehousing.Those requiring checks will be directed on the orange route towards a border control zone involving customs, sanitary and phytosanitary checks featuring nine bays, where a truck can be fully unloaded in secure and temperature-controlled warehousing.
“We have space for 100 trucks to be parked, 50% of our hourly traffic, and that’s way more than the authorities say they need,” said Keefe. “We’ve spent €15m on new buildings, warehousing, e-gates for passport checks, cameras, scanners, roads and signage.”“We have space for 100 trucks to be parked, 50% of our hourly traffic, and that’s way more than the authorities say they need,” said Keefe. “We’ve spent €15m on new buildings, warehousing, e-gates for passport checks, cameras, scanners, roads and signage.”
Thursday was not a typical day for Eurotunnel traffic flow, with a French customs work-to-rule protest causing 23 miles of queues from Calais to the Belgian border.Thursday was not a typical day for Eurotunnel traffic flow, with a French customs work-to-rule protest causing 23 miles of queues from Calais to the Belgian border.
The work to rule strike has been disrupting traffic for three weeks, causing delays of up to six hours. Tempers were frayed as drivers waited for security checks.The work to rule strike has been disrupting traffic for three weeks, causing delays of up to six hours. Tempers were frayed as drivers waited for security checks.
“Brexit will be the death of the UK,” declared one French driver as he waited at the “pit stop”, where 20 heavy goods vehicles at a time were stopped to be checked by dogs straining at their leashes as they sniffed for stowaways.“Brexit will be the death of the UK,” declared one French driver as he waited at the “pit stop”, where 20 heavy goods vehicles at a time were stopped to be checked by dogs straining at their leashes as they sniffed for stowaways.
Although the delays are not related to Brexit, they illustrate the potential impact of disruption and the risk posed by a no-deal scenario if all does not go as smoothly as everyone on the French side of the border intends.Although the delays are not related to Brexit, they illustrate the potential impact of disruption and the risk posed by a no-deal scenario if all does not go as smoothly as everyone on the French side of the border intends.
BrexitBrexit
Channel TunnelChannel Tunnel
FranceFrance
Immigration and asylumImmigration and asylum
Foreign policyForeign policy
EuropeEurope
European UnionEuropean Union
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