The European Commission has published its latest plans to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.

It includes 14 specific, temporary measures in areas such as financial services, air transport, customs and climate to avoid major disruption.

The commission says it is "essential and urgent" to adopt these measures today to ensure that the necessary contingency measures can be in place by March 30th 2019.

It also says the measures "will not and cannot" mitigate the overall impact of a no-deal scenario.

"They are limited to specific areas where it is absolutely necessary to protect the vital interests of the EU and where preparedness measures on their own are not sufficient.

"As a rule, they will be temporary in nature, limited in scope and adopted unilaterally by the EU.

"They take into account discussions with member states and are in addition to the preparedness measures that have already been taken".

The non-EU British passport | File photo

Citizens rights

It says member states should take measures to ensure that UK citizens legally residing in the EU on the date of withdrawal will continue to be considered legal residents.

It says they should adopt "a pragmatic approach to granting temporary residence status."

Financial services

The commission has adopted a number of measures to safeguard financial services - including a temporary and conditional equivalence decision for a fixed, limited period of 12 months, to ensure there will be no immediate disruption in the central clearing of derivatives.

Transport and air travel

In terms of transport, the commission has adopted two measures to avoid full interruption of air traffic between the EU and the UK in the event of no-deal.

But it adds that these measures will only ensure "basic connectivity and in no means replicate the significant advantages of membership of the Single European Sky".

This is subject to the UK giving equivalent rights to EU carriers, as well as the UK ensuring conditions of fair competition.

The proposals would see a 12-month provision of certain air services between the UK and the EU, and temporarily extend - for nine months - the validity of certain aviation safety licences.

UK operators would also have a temporary nine-month window to carry goods into the EU, provided the UK confers the same rights to EU road haulage operators and subject to fair competition conditions.

We have started implementing our #Brexit “no deal” Contingency Action Plan.
It includes 14 specific, temporary measures in a limited number of areas such as financial services, air transport customs and climate to avoid major disruption for the EU27 → https://t.co/wMTRcj5MZD pic.twitter.com/Ur6lqZjmXH

— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) December 19, 2018

Customs

For customs and the export of goods, the commission has adopted a number of technical measures.

A regulation would include the seas surrounding the UK, which would mean anyone entering them who need to lodge pre-departure declarations.

A further proposal could see the UK added to the list of countries, for which a general authorisation to export dual use items is valid throughout the EU.

But member states need to be in a position to apply the EU Customs Code and relevant rules regarding indirect taxation.

Irish programmes 

On Ireland directly, the commission reiterates its commitment to current programmes between the border counties.

It wants to ensure all the current programmes "can continue in all scenarios".

It says: "Given its importance, the commission has today made a proposal for a regulation to continue the PEACE programme in Northern Ireland until the end of 2020, in the event of a no deal scenario.

"As for the period after 2020, the commission has already proposed as part of its proposals for the next multi-annual financial framework to continue and strengthen cross-border support for peace and reconciliation in the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland."

Withdrawal deal "the only deal on offer"

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has welcomed the publication.

He says: "27 EU countries and the British cabinet have endorsed a withdrawal agreement that is the best way of ensuring an orderly withdrawal from the European Union.

"Although the withdrawal agreement is at an impasse in Westminster, it still remains our priority and the only deal on offer after a long and complicated negotiation that ended with compromises from both the UK and EU."

"I want to, in particular, welcome the reiteration by the European Commission of its commitment to the continuation of the current PEACE and INTERREG programmes between our border counties and both communities in Northern Ireland in all scenarios."

EU will continue PEACE funding for border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland “in all scenarios” until the end of 2020, in the event of a no deal #Brexit. EU will also prioritise PEACE funding post 2020 in planning for the new EU multi-annual Financial Framework.

— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) December 19, 2018

Protecting rights of Irish nationals

It comes as the British government announced that tens of thousands of low-skilled migrants from the EU will be free to travel to the UK to look for work until at least 2025.

Under plans revealed in the immigration white paper, the scheme will be open to all EU states and workers will be free to live and work in Britain for a year - before being asked to leave for 12 months before applying again.

It was revealed in a document published by the UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid detailing Britain's new immigration policy after it leaves the European Union.

It would come into effect after the end of the implementation period in December 2020, and set new rules aimed at cutting net migration to sustainable levels.

Mr Javid says the policy will end freedom of movement, set a new framework for migration based on skills not nationality and end preferential treatment for EU nationals.

An UK Immigration Bill is to be tabled on Thursday, which will bring four key changes into UK law.

These include ending free movement, protecting the rights of Irish nationals in the UK, setting out a new framework for the UK's immigration policy and aligning benefit rules after Brexit. 

Additional reporting: IRN