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Friday, January 1, 2021
After final Brexit
Truck traffic in Calais runs smoothly
Since midnight, Britain is no longer part of the EU customs union and the internal market. Thanks to the recently agreed trade pact, there is no chaos between the island and France. The first 200 trucks are handled without problems.
At the push of a button, the green light was given: the first trucks heading to Great Britain after leaving the EU internal market and the customs union were authorized in Calais, in northern France. The first vehicle to stop shortly after midnight was a Romanian van loaded with letters and packages at the checkpoint. In addition to the usual security checks, a quick scan was necessary, then Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart pressed the button that allowed the journey to continue.
According to the Getlink group of operators, around 200 trucks initially crossed the Channel Tunnel “without problems”. “Traffic was pretty steady for an extraordinary and historic night, everything went well,” Getlink added. All the truckers had completed the necessary paperwork for Brexit, no one was arrested.
At around 9:15 am, the first ferry from Dover, England, docked in the port of Calais. 36 trucks made landfall from the “Pride of Kent”, three of them were stopped for additional checks.
Johnson: “Make the most of it”
Britain left the EU on February 1. After an eleven-month transition period, its membership of the EU internal market and customs union also ended on Friday night. At 11pm (midnight CET), the ringing of the Big Ben bell heralded a new chapter in the country’s history, after 47 years as part of the European community. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke of a “great moment” for his country. “We have our freedom in our hands and it is up to us to make the most of it,” he said Thursday night in his New Year’s speech.
The post-Brexit deal between Britain and the EU, which regulates numerous trade and customs issues, was not agreed until the last minute on December 24. The agreement aims to avoid chaos in mutual economic relations; Without the agreement, delivery problems and long border traffic jams would have threatened since Friday.
As things stood, the first day of this new era passed without a hitch. On the English side, there were also no delays in the processing of the new export procedures first thing in the morning. On the way to the pier in Dover, the truckers only had to submit negative corona tests to get on the ferry.
Stress test probably not until next week
Local resident Alan Leigh said during his New Year’s walk on Dover’s famous White Cliffs that it was “good to see the harbor has done its job and there are no backwaters.” Despite the good premiere, problems with operations in the English Channel are expected in the coming weeks and months. For the first time in decades, there are border controls and a lot of paperwork for business companies. From now on they have to register their goods at French customs, which is done in advance using a “Smart Border” system.
The Stena Line ferry group reported a first small incident on Twitter. Consequently, several cargoes, destined for EU member Ireland, were rejected at the Welsh port of Holyhead because the correct documents were missing.
However, for the next few days, little trading is expected anyway. Many companies increased their stocks in December to avoid bottlenecks due to the new controls in January. New Year’s Day is also a public holiday in Great Britain and France. Authorities expect the stress test for border traffic to take place under new conditions next week.
