The European Commission is intensifying its no-deal outreach to European Union businesses in the fields of customs and indirect taxation such as VAT due to the increased risk of a no-deal Brexit, it announced in a press release on Monday.
The outreach campaign represents the EC's continued efforts to prepare for the United Kingdom's exit from the EU without a deal, following the conclusions of the European Council in December 2018 which called for intensified preparations for all possible outcomes. The campaign's aim is to advise businesses wishing to continue trading with the UK after March 29 on the steps required to ensure the smoothest transition possible. The press release further stated that Brexit preparations are of "paramount importance" if significant disruption to EU businesses is to be avoided.
Commenting on today's press release, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici said that "with the risk of a no-deal Brexit increasing as we get closer to March 29, the European Commission and national customs authorities are working hard to be ready to introduce checks and controls on goods flowing between the EU and the UK. This is key to protecting our consumers and our internal market. A lot depends on the ability of businesses trading with the UK to get up to speed with the customs rules that will apply on day one in case of no deal. There is no time to lose and we are here to help with the information campaign."
