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EU warns over consequences of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit

A photo grab from a video broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May as she speaks during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons in London on July 18, 2018. (AFP photo)

The European Union has warned member states over the consequences of a “no-deal” Brexit if Britain fails to secure a deal to exit the bloc by March 2019.

The European Commission, EU’s executive arm, issued a series of stark warnings Thursday, saying that a no-deal Brexit could have serious implications, especially for the EU and UK citizens.

According to the documents, if Britain and EU fail to hammer out a deal to accommodate their future interactions, there would be “no specific arrangement in place” for around 3.7 million EU citizens in the UK and 900,000 UK nationals in the EU, meaning that they would be left in a legal limbo.

The documents warned that “significant delays” would occur at borders as a result of third-country checks, saying EU companies should be prepared for the “worst outcomes.”

It added that British firms would be barred from bidding for lucrative European contracts.

The EU instructed its entities and companies last month to prepare for all outcomes of a Brexit.

However, the fresh warnings come amid increasing uncertainties about whether British Prime Minister Theresa May could push through a Brexit deal in Parliament.

Two key members of May’s cabinet have resigned over her plans for final phases of negotiations with the EU while others in the parliament, including people in May’s conservative party, have warned that they could challenge her leadership for weak decisions that could render Brexit unfruitful.

A spokeswoman in May’s office said that a no-deal situation was unlikely, saying the progress made so far suggests “that is not where we will end up.”

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, who replaced David Davis last week, is heading to Brussels to have his first talks with EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

That comes as May could be assured of a fewer frictions with critics in Parliament as lawmakers head off on their summer breaks.


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