France Is Ready To Introduce New Controls On Goods And Passengers Bound For Britain

France Is Ready To Introduce New Controls On Goods And Passengers Bound For Britain

France announced that it is ready to introduce new controls on goods and passengers bound for Britain from next year, although no agreement will be available on the conditions for the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union's (EU) single market. After Britain and the EU admitted after night talks that there were still large differences of opinion between the two sides on controversial points, French Minister for European Affairs Clément Beaune and Budget Minister Olivier Dussopt checked Brexit preparations at Gare du Nord in Paris, where Eurostar trains from London arrive. "We are ready," said Beaune, whose country is pushing the EU not to offer London big concessions in a trade agreement after Brexit. He added that France would check preparations for the change, which will take place on January 1, "no matter what happens", until the last hour of the last day. "Whatever happens, we will be in another world on January 1, whether an agreement is reached with Britain or not," he said. The United Kingdom left the EU on 31 January 2020 and will leave the bloc's single market and customs union at the end of this month, ending half a century of integration. Negotiators from London and Brussels are trying to reach a trade agreement after the end of the transitional period at the end of this year. However, the talks have been running for months and only three weeks remain until the end of the year. Dussopt stated that another 600 customs officers had been recruited to address the situation after 1 January 2021, including at Gare du Nord. "Gare du Nord will become an exit point from the European Union, an exit point from the internal market. Britain will become an independent country," he explained. He said that one of the changes would be to check passports and stamp them, as passports, not ID cards, would be needed for the journey between France and Britain. French customs will carry out checks on trains going to Britain through the English Channel tunnel.