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'No-deal Brexit' helpline launched by European Commission

A no-deal Brexit on April 12 is "increasingly likely", the European Commission has warned
A no-deal Brexit on April 12 is "increasingly likely", the European Commission has warned A no-deal Brexit on April 12 is "increasingly likely", the European Commission has warned
By Claire Simpson

The European Commission has launched a freephone no-deal Brexit helpline.

The commission said it has finished its no-deal preparations, adding it is "increasingly likely" the UK will leave the European Union without a formal agreement on April 12.

The European Council agreed last week to extend the UK's departure date to May 22, provided British Prime Minister Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement is approved by the House of Commons on Friday.

If the Withdrawal Agreement is not approved, the council has agreed to an extension until April 12.

Activists pose with papier mache heads depicting British Prime Minister Theresa May, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, during an anti-Brexit campaign stunt outside EU headquarters during an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, March 21
Activists pose with papier mache heads depicting British Prime Minister Theresa May, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, during an anti-Brexit campaign stunt outside EU headquarters during an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, March 21 Activists pose with papier mache heads depicting British Prime Minister Theresa May, right, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, during an anti-Brexit campaign stunt outside EU headquarters during an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, March 21

"While the European Union continues to hope that it will not be the case, this means that if the Withdrawal Agreement is not ratified by Friday 29 March, a “no-deal” scenario may occur on April 12," it said.

The EU said in the event of a no-deal, there will be no transition period which will "obviously cause significant disruption for citizens and businesses". 

He said UK citizens will "no longer be citizens of the European Union" and will be "subject to additional checks when crossing borders into the European Union".

To know more about how to prepare for a no-deal scenario, EU citizens can contact Europe Direct for any questions.

Call Freephone 00 800 6789 1011 from anywhere in the EU. 

'No-deal Brexit' helpline launched by European Commission
'No-deal Brexit' helpline launched by European Commission