On 31 December 2020, the transition period will end, the UK will leave the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union and we will regain our political and economic independence. Regardless of the agreement we reach with the EU, there will be changes and opportunities for which business and the Government need to prepare.
Despite the unequivocal position of the UK Government against any extension of the transition period and Section 33 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, there has been continued speculation about the possibility of extension. This speculation has been further encouraged by the public positions in favour of extension adopted by political leaders including the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, and the Mayor of London. Nonetheless, the deadline for extension under the Withdrawal Agreement has now passed and the European Commission has confirmed this is a “definite conclusion” of the matter.
There is therefore clarity about the changes that will come at the end of this year. Businesses and citizens must start thinking now about the actions they will need to take to be ready for the end of the transition period and to seize the opportunities ahead. To help ensure readiness, the Government has launched a major public information campaign, The UK’s new start: let’s get going, which clearly sets out the actions businesses and individuals need to take. These actions range from making sure travellers who intend to visit the EU26 and EFTA states from 1 January 2021 have a valid passport, to making sure businesses are preparing for customs procedures when trading with the EU. Guidance is available on gov.uk/transition and via the transition checker, which allows users to answer a set of questions based on their personal or business circumstances and receive a curated list of actions to take. Users can sign up to email updates on this tool, and are alerted as further information becomes available.
This campaign will run alongside the UK’s continued negotiations with the EU. Most of the actions businesses and citizens are being asked to take will need to be completed whether the UK secures a further negotiated outcome or not. We all need to ensure that businesses and citizens take this message seriously and start taking the actions that are needed. There will also be changes at the border for moving goods between Great Britain and the EU, regardless of the agreement we reach, which businesses need to prepare for. Today we are publishing the Border Operating Model, which provides further details on how the border will work at the end of the transition period and the actions that traders and hauliers need to take. As is made clear in the document, the Border Operating Model does not cover matters specified in the Northern Ireland Protocol. We will be providing further guidance for businesses and traders in Northern Ireland shortly.
With every good wish,
Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
and Minister for the Cabinet Office