100 days til Brexit EU reveals ‘essential and urgent’ no-deal plans

The EU Commission announced on Wednesday that it has begun preparing for a no-deal Brexit after the UK prime minister Theresa May looks increasingly unlikely to gain support for her exit plan.

Given the continued uncertainty in the UK surrounding the ratification of the withdrawal agreement the European Council will ‘intensify’ preparations at all levels and for all possible outcomes, the EU Commission said in a statement.

However, the EU admitted that it is impossible to mitigate all impacts that will arise from a no-deal Brexit.

How is the EU prepping for no-deal Brexit?

The EU Commission revealed 14 measures across a limited number of areas where a no-deal scenario would create ‘major disruption’ for citizens and businesses in the EU27, including financial services, transport and climate policy.

‘The Commission will continue to implement its Contingency Action plan in the weeks to come and will monitor the need for additional action, as well as continue to support member states in their preparedness,’ the EU Commission said.

The Commission said that it considers it ‘essential and urgent’ to adopt these measures to limit the most significant damage caused by a no-deal scenario in these areas.

May urges UK firms to prep for no-deal scenario

On Tuesday, May announced that she and her cabinet are ramping up preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

The government has also sent letters to around 140,000 UK businesses urging them to ensure that they have adequate plans in place to handle the country departing the EU without a deal in place.

May has even said that 3,500 British troops are already on standby to make sure that essential services remain online.

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU bloc on 29 March 2019, following the government triggering Article 50 two years prior.