EU exit from the UK: Bundestag passes bill for Brexit transition

United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum

all articles

Preparation for the Brexit Scenarios: The Bundestag has passed a law to regulate the transitional period after the United Kingdom left the European Union. However, this law will only come into effect if the British exit has taken place and the transitional period planned for the end of 2020 actually occurs.

In the 21 months after Brexit, the UK would remain a member of the EU, but the country would no longer have any rights of participation.

On Tuesday, the British parliament rejected the Brexit deal by Prime Minister Theresa May. This makes the scenario of an unregulated exit ever more likely.

The law, which has now been passed in Berlin, will only come into effect if the British resignation has been completed and the transitional period planned for the end of 2020 has come. For the submission of the law on Thursday all factions except the AfD voted.

"The time of the games is over"

The main purpose of the bill is to provide legal clarity for citizens and entrepreneurs during the transitional period. For example, applications for naturalization of Britons in Germany and vice versa should continue to be possible during this period. The decisive factor is the time of the application, even if the naturalization only takes place after the end of the transitional period.

"We are prepared for all scenarios," said Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) in the Bundestag. "We continue our plans in the event of an unregulated Brexit, and we will continue to intensify them." At the same time, Maas called on Britain to make it clear what solution the country was seeking. "The time of the games, which is over now, the ball in the field of Britain," he said.

The 27 other EU members called on Maas to maintain their unity. An unregulated Brexit pity everyone, but especially the UK.

A motion for a resolution by the FDP to open the way for a withdrawal of the resignation statement and to prepare for an unregulated exit at a special EU summit was not voted into majority.

FDP demands more customs staff

The FDP in the Bundestag called in the face of Brexit more employees and less bureaucracy in the customs offices. "A possible hard Brexit will continue to slow down the customs clearance and increase the waiting time," said the FDP MP Sandra Weeser. Germany was not prepared.

The Liberals complain that already today a lot of bureaucracy in customs burden small and medium-sized enterprises. The effort would still increase after an EU exit from the UK. In addition, there are too few staff in the offices - a problem that will be exacerbated by retirements.

Union and SPD stressed that they are already addressing the issues raised. However, this would take a long time to find and train good staff, said former Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière (CDU). Green MEP Katharina Dröge criticized: "The pace with which the grand coalition has traveled in the past, that will not be enough here, we must now prepare for Brexit."