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France is preparing for a possible end to the Brexit transition phase without a trade pact. “Even if France wants to avoid a lack of agreement, it is preparing for all scenarios in close cooperation with its European partners and the European Commission,” Prime Minister Jean Castex said Monday night.
The lack of an agreement could have serious implications, so all the ministries involved are currently working to find unified support for the most affected sectors. “Negotiations on an agreement on the future relationship are also continuing,” he said.
The European Union and Great Britain are currently trying to move towards a trade pact. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had set the EU as an October 15 deadline for a deal, that is, Thursday. Then the EU heads of state and government meet at a summit in Brussels. The EU assumes that negotiations may take another two weeks. The agreement aims to regulate economic relations after the transition phase of Brexit, which ends on December 31.
If no agreement is reached, this would also have serious consequences for France. The French port city of Calais is the main gateway to the United Kingdom. The English Channel between Dover and Calais, which is less than 40 kilometers wide, is a transport hub with its ferries and the nearby Eurotunnel. Without an agreement, customs controls would be necessary and the region would become a bottleneck. French fishermen are also very concerned, as they also fish in British waters. For British citizens residing in France, a platform to request documents will be available from October 19, according to the French government.
