New hurdles for UK hauliers post-Brexit, warns Commission
BRITISH haulage firms that take goods to countries in the EU will face significant new hurdles after Brexit unless a special deal is negotiated, it has emerged.
The European Commission has issued a warning notice that from March next year, when the UK is due to leave the EU, current licensing arrangements will not apply.
As present, because of the UK’s membership of the EU and the European Single Market, lorries licensed here can travel freely throughout the EU.
The EU warning notice explains that the situation will change after Brexit.
Haulage operators’ licences issued in the UK will no longer be valid, and companies will need to obtain a licence from the EU. All such companies will also need a transport manager living in an EU country. Restrictions will also apply to bus and coach operators.
Former shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff Central, said: “This demonstrates yet another significant problem facing UK workers post-Brexit that the government has shown no signs of either understanding or addressing.
“We are 18 months on from the referendum, 12 months on from the triggering of Article 50 and nearly 10 months on from the start of the exit negotiations. Neither the public, businesses, workers or trade unions are any clearer about what this Tory government is doing or what it is seeking to achieve.
“Meanwhile, people’s livelihoods are at risk and business uncertainty increases every day. It’s clear that little if any work has been done to prepare the country for the impact of leaving the EU.
“This isn’t just grossly negligent, it’s dangerous – and makes an extreme Brexit with its catastrophic impact on UK workers and businesses all the more likely.
“Instead of messing around with reshuffles and creating 11 new vice-chairs of the Tory Party, Theresa May should be focusing on protecting UK jobs and businesses.”
The UK government says it is confident new arrangements will be made that will allow UK drivers to take charge of commercial vehicles in the EU, and EU citizens to do the same in the UK.