Government will run drill for no-deal Brexit scenario

The government is prepared for any eventuality resulting from the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, and is determined to take care of the country and its citizens, Minister for EU Affairs and Equality Edward Zammit Lewis has said.

During the launch of the government’s ‘Brexit: Be Prepared’ campaign, the minister said that preparations were now centred on an increasingly likely no-deal Brexit, even though this was not what Malta would like to see. He noted that many contingency plans had been drawn up and that various briefings and social campaigns would soon be launched. He added that businesses and SMEs would also be given a check-list to aid their preparations.

Zammit Lewis told journalists that a Brexit ‘drill’ would be run to gauge readiness in case of a no-deal withdrawal for the UK. The drill is expected to involve various government departments, although a date has not yet been set for it.

Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said that the government would remain committed to making Malta the most UK-friendly country in Europe in a post-Brexit era and noted that preparations across various sectors, such as healthcare, customs, and aviation had been ongoing for months, in addition to dealing with UK residents in Malta.

The head of the EU Coordination Department, Glenn Micallef, said that a number of preparatory measures had been put in place to prepare for the possibility that the UK may crash out of the EU without a deal, noting that this would result in immediate thirdcountry status.

Various points were underscored during Micallef’s presentation on a number of sectors.

What is certain is that a number of new regulations will come into force if a no-deal Brexit occurs.

The government, through a legal notice, will allow UK citizens who arrive in Malta before 31 October to apply for special status, which will ensure the protection of their rights in the job market and in fields such as education, health services, and social services. This would run for 10 years before it needs to be renewed, and these citizens would not require a work permit to work in Malta.

Meanwhile, Maltese citizens in the UK before 31 October will be able to benefit from the EU Settlement Scheme and can, up to the end of 2020, apply through the British Home Office website for free. If their application is accepted, they will retain all their rights indefinitely, and their relatives can join them through this scheme till 29 March 2022. There will be new checks and tests for those going to the UK between 31 October and the end of 2020, and anyone going to the UK after 2020 will be allowed in based on a point-based systems. Any EU citizens staying in the UK for 90 days or less will not need a visa.

In terms of education, plans have been made for the Erasmus exchange programme; where students on an Erasmus programme in the UK before Brexit will not have their grants affected by a no-deal Brexit, although it is yet to be seen whether the UK will keep participating in Erasmus.

In terms of security, the UK will lose its access to EU security systems such as Schengen, but Malta will continue to cooperate on security matters with the UK including through Interpol.

Tourism will be affected indirectly, while there will be new rules on customs importation of vehicles, and their VAT and registration procedures. Alternative sources have been found for medicines imported from the UK, and where this was not possible, medication from the UK has been stockpiled.

The bilateral healthcare agreement that existed between Malta and the UK will remain in place. This includes emergency care for those travelling to the UK for short periods, but the European Health Insurance Card will not remain valid.