With the #UKCoordinationGroup & #EPlenary about to adopt a resolution on the EU-UK future relationship, here are some elements which would be of great help to integrated supply chains & logistics on both sides of the border @davidmcallister @berndlange @CHansenEU @EP_Trade 1/
1. 1st, a #transport agreement is an absolute must @davidmcallister @berndlange @CHansenEU @KarimaDelli : without an agreement, there is no fallback to allow traffic by road, rail & air freight to continue. Without it, planes won't fly & a very small number of EU & UK vehicles 2/
(trucks & vans) cld ever cross the border relying on a very limited number of ECMT permits (wouldn't even cover 5% of the traffic). The situation is just as serious for the island of Ireland since #transport is not dealt with in the Protocol part of the withdrawal agreement 3/
Then you need to think about #trade too & good to see it's a priority for the #UKCoordinationGroup @davidmcallister @berndlange @CHansenEU - yes, frictions & changes are inevitable outside of the SM & CU - but there's still a crucial role for trade facilitation measures 5/
So 2. A safety & security agreement is a must. It should remove the need for entry & exit summary declarations, which unlike customs declarations, are the responsibility of the transport company. Why? Not just the admin burden & cost (although with around 29 elements required 6/
for the exit one & about 40 for the entry one that's a valid point - esp. for small transport operators), but because they wld be a logistical nightmare for roll-on roll-off ferry crossings & the Tunnel. Certain elements won't be available until too late in the day. 7/
3. An Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) mutual recognition agreement, as foreseen in the political declaration, is also important, so that AEO accredited companies ('trusted traders') may continue to benefit from the status on both sides of the border. 8/
4. Another crucial element is a sanitary & phytosanitary agreement (SPS), at least reducing the rate of physical checks on agri-food products in both directions. There are precedents (EU-New Zealand), although, yes, the Swiss-EU SPS model is clearly much better... 9/
Talking about SPS... 5. Something needs to be done around wooden pallets, since the vast majority of the ones used between the UK & the EU do not currently comply with the ISPM15 standard (which requires non-EU pallets to be treated or fumigated). 10/
6. No tariffs & quotas would be great, but we need #RulesofOrigin which are transparent & not overly complex, so that even less experienced or smaller companies can benefit. Diagonal cumulation with key trader partners should be considered. 11/
7. #mobility of people & workers in particular is also critical, especially for workers involved in the movement of goods, such as drivers. No point in facilitating the flow of goods if people get stuck at the border. Although the UK & Ireland have the Common Travel Area 12/
there's still a valid concern for EU26 nationals including on the island of IRL. 8. Recognition of qualifications is crucial! Don't forget #transport @KarimaDelli - mutual recognition of #drivers & transport manager qualifications shld be provided for. 13/
NI & EU27 workers employed in the EU shouldn't be forced to exchange their qualifications or even retake their tests, if their existing one was obtained in the UK - and vice versa. 14/
But above all @davidmcallister @berndlange @CHansenEU please don't forget to involve the people that will need to implement what is decided on both sides at every step of the way. #Logistics - both in the EU & the UK - has a key contribution to make to these negotiations /END
