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newsBrexit preparedness: provisional agreement reached on amending EU rules in the area of type-approvals for vehicles

Brussels, 27 November 2018

The European Commission welcomes today's provisional agreement at trilogue level on its proposal to change EU rules in the area of type-approvals for vehicles.

This is an example of one of the Commission's Brexit preparedness proposals for measures that must be adopted irrespective of whether the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union is orderly or otherwise.

Today's provisional agreement means that current manufacturers holding UK type-approvals will be allowed to apply – before the UK's withdrawal from the EU – to EU27 authorities for new type-approval. It will provide legal clarity, ensure business continuity, and avoid an unnecessary administrative burden on manufacturers.

Following this provisional agreement, the text of the Regulation will have to be formally approved by the European Parliament and the Council. Once endorsed by both co-legislators in the coming weeks, the Regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the Union and will enter into force on the third day after its publication.

Background

On 4 June 2018, the European Commission proposed a Regulation complementing EU rules in the area of type-approvals for vehicles. This is part of the Commission's ongoing preparedness work in the context of Brexit, and follows two stakeholder notices published on 8 February and 28 March 2018.

Type-approval is the procedure for certifying that a vehicle meets all applicable requirements related to safety and emissions.  Under EU law, the approval of a vehicle type in one EU country is valid EU-wide without the need for further tests and re-certification in other Member States.

After the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU (or at the end of the transition period, if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified), the UK type-approval authority will no longer be a national authority of an EU Member State. Therefore – without prejudice to the discussions on the future EU-UK relationship – it will no longer be possible for manufacturers to place vehicles on the EU27 market on the basis of type-approvals granted in the UK.

Reaching  an  agreement  with  the  UK  Government on the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration on the framework of the future relationship is  not  a  guarantee  that  the  United Kingdom will ratify the Withdrawal Agreement by 29 March 2019. It continues to be essential that business operators prepare themselves for the UK's withdrawal – whatever the outcome.

For more information:

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council complementing EU type-approval legislation with regard to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union

Communication of 13 November 2018 "Preparing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 30 March 2019: a Contingency Action Plan"

IP/18/6587 Copyright European Union






newsNext steps regarding Brexit

The European Parliament debated the UK’s withdrawal from the EU with EU Brexit chief negotiator Michel Barnier on Thursday.

Commenting on the conclusions of the Extraordinary European Council of 25 November, where heads of state or government backed the negotiated withdrawal agreement and the political declaration regarding future relations with the UK, members of the European Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group underlined the gravity of the moment.

The Withdrawal agreement is the “only and best deal possible taking into account the UK government’s red lines and EU founding principles: integrity of the Single market, indivisibility of the four freedoms and the autonomy of the EU’s decision-making” stressed Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, BE), the EP’s Brexit coordinator.

“It is now the time for ratification by the UK, the European Parliament and the Council” underlined Michel Barnier. “Leaving the EU cannot be business as usual, there is no added value to this negotiation”, but the agreement reached allows for an orderly withdrawal. He underlined, that the political declaration approved last Sunday paves the way for an ambitious cooperation of an “unprecedented scope” in the future with the UK.

In line with article 50 of the EU Treaty, the European Parliament is set to vote on the withdrawal agreement in early 2019, before the final vote of the Council.

You can watch the plenary debate via EP Live and EbS+.

Speakers’ interventions are available by clicking on the links below.

Opening statement by Karoline EDTSTADLER, Austrian presidency and Michel BARNIER, European Commission Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK

Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE), Parliament's coordinator for the negotiations on the UK withdrawal from the EU

Elmar BROK (EPP, DE)

Robert GUALTIERI (S&D, IT)

Geoffrey VAN ORDEN (ECR, UK)

Philippe LAMBERTS (GREENS/EFA, BE)

Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE)

Nigel FARAGE (EFDD, UK)

Gilles LEBRETON (ENF, FR)

Closing statement by Michel BARNIER, European Commission Chief Negotiator for Article 50 Negotiations with the UK

Copyright European Union






newsSpecial European Council meeting on Brexit on 25/11/2018

Main results

EU27 leaders met for a special meeting of the European Council (Art.50) on Sunday 25 November 2018.

They endorsed the Brexit withdrawal agreement, as presented by the negotiators of the EU and the UK.

Leaders also approved the political declaration on future EU-UK relations, which accompanies and is referred to in the withdrawal agreement.

"Ahead of us is the difficult process of ratification as well as further negotiations. But regardless of how it will all end, one thing is certain: we will remain friends until the end of days, and one day longer."

Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the meeting

Following the meeting, EU27 leaders met with Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the next steps.

Copyright European Union






newsFramework for the future Relationship between UK and EU

European Council President Donald Tusk sent on the 22nd November 2018 to the EU27 Member States, the draft Political Declaration setting out the Framework for the Future Relationship between the EU and the UK that has been agreed at negotiators' level and agreed in principle at political level, subject to the endorsement of the Leaders.

Coreper (Art. 50) met today to assess the document. Friday morning, the EU27 Sherpas will meet to finalise preparations for the special European Council (Art. 50) on Sunday.

Copyright European Union




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