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BREXIT STATEMENT SIMON SMITS
Netherlands Ambassador to the Court of St. James's
 
 

What a week it was …

Last week, together with the colleagues here at the Netherlands Embassy, I have been closely following the tumultuous proceedings in Westminster during a set of three important votes on the UK’s path to Brexit.

Regrettably, once again, no majority in the House of Commons could be ensured for the deal so painstakingly reached between the UK government and the EU27. This in spite of multiple additional assurances from the side of the EU.
The British Parliament subsequently expressed the wish not to leave the European Union without a deal either. A third vote showed a majority for requesting a delay of the UK’s departure from the EU, foreseen on the 29th March.

Inspite of MPs concerns about leaving without a deal, a ‘cliff edge’ Brexit does remain the default outcome in less than two weeks time if no action is taken. Prime Minister May has announced that, further to the third vote, she will request an extension of the article 50 procedure which the UK triggered almost two years ago.

A short technical extension could suffice when the British parliament would decide to opt for the only way readily available to ensure an orderly Brexit, and vote for the Withdrawal Agreement after all.
If this is not the case, a longer extension would be required for which EU27 leaders will want to see a credible and convincing justification.

Without a concrete plan, a delay would merely prolong uncertainty.

A lot of attention will go to the European Council this week, but the most fundamental decisions need to be made in the UK. The Netherlands, as well as the other members of the EU27 firmly remain of the position that the best way forward would be to ratify the deal that is on offer.
Until the risk of no deal is formally off the table, there is sadly nothing else the Dutch government, branch organisations, businesses and other stakeholders can do than to keep preparing for the worst.
Our joint efforts in stepping up Brexit-preparedness have been commendable and, rightly, praised in the British and international press. I urge you to keep up the good work, whilst hoping that most contingency measures will not need to be activated in the end. More general preparations will be of the essence in any case, as - whatever the outcome of Brexit - there will be a customs border, and there will be disruptions.

My colleagues and I will do our utmost and we will keep working tirelessly to make sure that the damage for The Netherlands and Dutch citizens living and working in the UK is minimised in the case of a no deal Brexit.
If you are wondering whether your business is ready for Brexit, please take a look at brexitloket.nl or business.gov.nl/brexit to run the free Brexit impact scan or apply for a voucher to receive advice (T&Cs apply).

London, March 19, 2019

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