Britain Launches Brexit Info Campaign Ahead of December End Term

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Pro-Brexit supporters hold up placards outside Parliament in central London on January 15, 2019. – Parliament is to finally vote today on whether to support or vote against the agreement struck between Prime Minister Theresa May’s government and the European Union. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

In a major development, Britain is urging businesses and individuals to prepare for the Dec. 31 end of the Brexit transition period with an information campaign titled: “The UK’s new start: let’s get going.”, reports Reuters

The announcement comes at a time when the world economy is suffering from a huge recession due to the coivd19 pandemic and the UK is one of the worst-hit countries with even its Prime Minister suffering from the disease.

Key Developments

  • Britain left the European Union on Jan. 31, three and a half years after a referendum, but a transition period has delayed any major change in the relationship.
  • The two sides have been working to agree on a trade deal ahead of that period expiring at the end of the year.
  • Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said on Sunday progress was being made in talks but there were still divisions.

Opportunities for Business

“At the end of this year we are leaving the single market and Customs Union regardless of the type of agreement we reach with the EU,” he said. “This will bring changes and significant opportunities for which we all need to prepare.”

The information campaign will launch on Monday, the government said, with ads appearing on TV, radio, billboards and online.

A survey from lobby group the Institute of Directors (IoD) said only a quarter of companies were fully ready for the end of the transition period.

Nightmare for Businesses

Nearly half of 978 company directors polled in late June said they were not able to prepare right now, with one in seven distracted by the coronavirus and almost a third saying they needed details of changes to be clear, the IoD said.

“With so much going on, many directors feel that preparing for Brexit proper is like trying to hit a moving target,” said IoD Director General Jonathan Geldart. “Jumping immediately into whatever comes next would be a nightmare for many businesses.”

The campaign targets Britons intending to travel to the EU from Jan. 1, importers and exporters, UK nationals abroad, and EU, European Economic Area and Swiss nationals living in Britain.

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Source: Reuters