La Moncloa, Spain – how to prepare for Brexit

How to get ready

The United Kingdom has formed part of the European Union for more than 40 years.

That is why the goal of Spain and of the European Union is to ensure that its withdrawal takes place in an orderly fashion through the adoption of the Withdrawal Agreement, avoiding any impact of its withdrawal without an agreement.

Whether an agreement is reached or not, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom will result in a change of scenario. Getting ready for this new situation is a necessary exercise.

The question is to strive to address Brexit with the best tools at hand, something incumbent on all parties: the European Union institutions, the Member States, the United Kingdom and also on citizens and companies, informing them of the changes and adapting to them.

If you are a citizen or an economic operator, you can obtain more information by clicking on the banners below.

Citizens

As from 30 March 2019, the United Kingdom will cease to be a member of the European Union.

The European Union has negotiated a Withdrawal Agreement with the United Kingdom that opens up a transition period during which the rights of citizens are maintained in accordance with the EU acquis; at present, this agreement is at the approval stage, both by the European and the British institutions.

Whether an agreement is reached on not, on 30 March 2019, the United Kingdom will become a third State, which is why citizens must familiarise themselves with the consequences of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

Spain is the country of residence for the largest community of British citizens in Europe and a significant number of Spanish people reside in the United Kingdom.
For the Government of Spain, the question relating to the preservation of the rights of those citizens who exercised their right to free movement before the withdrawal of the United Kingdom constitutes a priority and the contingency measures being drawn up seek to achieve this goal.

Spanish citizens in the United Kingdom

• The negotiated Withdrawal Agreement preserves the rights of Spanish citizens who have exercised or exercise their right to free movement in the United Kingdom. The European Commission has drafted a document with the most frequently asked questions and answers on the rights of EU and British citizens following Brexit in the event of an agreement.
• In the case of withdrawal without an agreement, the Government of Spain is working with the European Union, with the United Kingdom and internally on contingency measures to guarantee the rights of Spanish citizens who exercised their right to free movement before the withdrawal date.
• Spanish citizens in the United Kingdom can obtain more information at the Spanish Embassy in London  and from the British authorities as to what actions to take. They can also obtain useful information on the web page of the British Government.

British citizens in Spain

• The negotiated Withdrawal Agreement preserves the rights of British citizens who have exercised or exercise their right to free movement in Spain. The European Commission has drafted a document with the most frequently asked questions and answers on the rights of EU and British citizens following Brexit in the event of an agreement.
• In the case of withdrawal without an agreement, the contingency measures the Government of Spain is working on seek to safeguard the interests of British citizens who, prior to the date on which the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union takes place, exercised their right to free movement and reside in Spain.
• Useful information can be obtained on the web page of the British embassy in Madrid for those British citizens who are in Spain.

Non official translation

Trade

As from 30 March 2019, the United Kingdom will cease to be a Member State of the European Union.

Spain and its European partners hope that the European Union and the United Kingdom can ratify the Withdrawal Agreement that provides the framework for a transition period to facilitate the withdrawal and then an agreement on a future relationship capable of building ambitious trade relations.

 

At any event, the United Kingdom will become a third State on 30 March 2019. This means that economic operators should use the time leading up to that date to study the rules governing trade with Third States and prepare themselves.

The European Commission has drawn up a useful document containing information on various topics related to this new situation.

Another document on things businesses need to know about the upcoming scenario has also been published, which covers: the supply chain; certificates, licences and authorisations; customs, VAT and excise; rules of origin; and import restrictions.

If you or your company has trade relations with the European Union, you can also visit the websites of the various ministerial departments to see any additional information that may be available:

 Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism

 Ministry of Economic Affairs and Business

 Ministry of the Treasury

Non official translation

More information available: http://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/brexit/howtoprepare/Paginas/index.aspx

Written by BayRadio