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What exactly is France’s plan for a no-deal Brexit?

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced on Thursday that France has activated its plan for a no-deal Brexit. But what exactly does this plan entail?

Published: 17 January 2019 15:32 CET
What exactly is France's plan for a no-deal Brexit?
Photo: AFP

The no-deal Brexit plan that France is set to trigger later on Thursday includes measures that aim to ensure that there is no interruption of rights and that the rights of our fellow citizens and our businesses are effectively protected, the prime minister said. 

The French parliament is expected to complete the adoption of a bill Thursday, allowing the government to pass five decrees covering preparations for a no-deal Brexit, which could create chaotic scenes on both sides of the Channel.

Here's what the plan entails so far. 

Britons in France

The French prime minister on Thursday made it clear that France intends to protect the rights of British citizens living here as long as that attitude is reciprocated by the UK.
 
“We want to be ready to protect the interests of our citizens,” Philippe said. “Our objective is… to respect our obligations, to make sure that the lives of our citizens and, in a way, British citizens living in France are impacted as little as possible.” 
 
In terms of the residency rights of British citizens in France, they will be allowed remain without a permit for a year after Brexit, provided the French living in Britain can do the same. After that they will need to apply for residency.
 
READ ALSO:
Q&A: Where do Brits in France now stand if there's a no-deal Brexit?
 
 
It's important to remember that Britons in France have been encouraged to apply for their Carte de Séjour residency permit as soon as possible even if there is a deal.
 
The draft bill revealed in late 2018 stated clearly that “in the case of an exit without agreement, the British wishing to enter France to stay for more than three months would be subject to this requirement.”

 
If Britain leaves without a deal then British nationals and their families who didn't have the residency permits would have an 'irregular' status, the draft bill stated.
 
If there is a deal Brits in France who have successfully applied for a Carte de Sejour will likely be able to swap it for whatever kind of residency permit that is brought in post-Brexit.
 
No-deal Brexit: Brits in Europe furious over EU's new contingency plan
 
Transport links
 
British truckers will be allowed to continue making deliveries in France, and the Channel Tunnel will continue to operate.
 
Emergency customs infrastructure 

Philippe announced that 50 million euros would be invested in ports and airports in France which he said “are obviously the places most affected by the changes needed” in the event of Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal.

“In some ports that will mean the construction of car parks, in others it will be the establishment of infrastructure for carrying out checks,” Philippe said.

in total, around 600 people will be recruited to work in border control in the coming weeks, including customs officers and veterinary controllers.

Safeguards on financial activities

Any financial activities that could be jeopardised by Britain losing its “passport” access to EU financial markets will be safeguarded. 

Cross-Channel deliveries of defence equipment
 
So far there isn't much detail on the last of the five decrees however the French government has confirmed that deliveries of defence equipment between the two countries will be covered in the bill. 

 
READ ALSO:

No-deal Brexit: What France's contingency plan means for Brits in France

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2024 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

‘Don’t be like Brits, who cried after Brexit’ – warns French prime minister

France's prime minister on Thursday warned the French against casting votes for the far right in next month's European elections, saying they risked becoming like Brits who backed Brexit only to have second thoughts when it was too late.

Published: 30 May 2024 14:07 CEST
'Don't be like Brits, who cried after Brexit' - warns French prime minister

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal faces an uphill struggle to narrow a yawning gap with the far right before France votes on June 9th, with polls forecasting a major defeat for the government of President Emmanuel Macron.

Attal accused the far-right Rassemblement Rally (RN) of pursuing policies that would equate to France no longer being in the European Union, even if the party insists it no longer wants a French “Frexit” withdrawal from the bloc.

Listen to the team from The Local (including some Brits) discussing France’s European election campaign in this week’s Talking France podcast. Download here or listen on the link below

“Don’t be like the British who cried after Brexit,” Attal told RTL.

“When you say you are not going to respect the rules of the single market anymore, not pay France’s dues and stop respecting most of the treaties, the reality is that we are no longer in the EU.”

Attal referred to recent UK polls showing that, if there was a repeat of the 2016 referendum on EU membership, Britain would vote to stay.

“A large majority of British regret Brexit and sometimes regret voting for something that was negative for their country,” he said.

Painting a bleak picture of post-Brexit Britain, Attal said there was “more illegal immigration than ever” and “massive economic problems”.

“France will not be stronger by being alone,” he said.

The latest poll published Monday by Ifop for Le Figaro showed the RN scoring 33.5 percent in the polls, way ahead of the government alliance based around Macron’s Renaissance party on just 16 percent.

Attal, 35, last week went head-to-head in a TV debate with the head of the RN list Jordan Bardella, 28, with government supporters crowing afterwards the premier has exposed a lack of substance in his opponent.

But there has been little sign of the debate making an impression on polls, with questions also asked over why Attal needed to impose himself instead of the little-known head of the pro-Macron list Valérie Hayer by taking on the debate.

Analysts add that the government list is in danger of even coming third in the election behind the Socialist list led by ex-commentator Raphaël Glucksmann, which scored 14.5 percent in the Ifop poll.

“Will France be the country that sends the largest contingent of far-right lawmakers to the European Parliament?” asked Attal.

If the far right arrived in force at the parliament, he said, it “could have the capacity to block European institutions, which would lead to very dangerous consequences for our country.”

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