After Brexit C1

ADVANCED

C1

ON CD 9

GLOSSARY

1 to chime: repicar 2 to warn: alertar 3 to grapple: forcejear, luchar 4 to phase in: introducir gradualmente 5 to raise: plantear 6 despite: a pesar de 7 scheme: programa 8 to put in place: implementar 9 skilled workers: trabajadores cualificados 10 shortage: escasez 11 PhD: doctorado (abr. Doctor of

Philosophy)

After Brexit

Cientos de camiones atrapados en la frontera, confusión en los aeropuertos e incerteza entre estudiantes, y trabajadores, tanto en el Reino Unido como en los países de la Unión Europea... Repasamos los principales problemas que ha causado la puesta en marcha del Brexit.

The bells of Big Ben chimed1 to mark the occasion but there were no street parties or chaos on the roads for the arrival of Brexit at 11pm on December 31st 2020, when the transition period ended. Industry leaders did warn2, however, of “invisible chaos” as businesses grapple3 with new trading rules and software systems required from day one for exports to the EU. While the UK has decided to phase in4 reciprocal checks over six months, in Northern Ireland they are operational from day one, which has raised5 fears of chaos and confusion despite6 a £200-million support scheme7 put in place8 by the government and a grace period for supermarkets.

So what are the biggest changes caused by Brexit?

IMMIGRATION

Those who arrive for the first time in the UK have to go through the new points-based system requiring a minimum salary of £25,600 for skilled workers9 and £20,480 for those with job offers in a shortage10 occupation or in possession of a PhD11 relevant to the job. British nationals travelling to Europe on holiday are able to do so12 visa-free13 for ninety days in a one-hundred-andeighty-day period but have lost the automatic right to live and work in an EU country.

AT THE AIRPORT

The “arriving from the EU” lane14 has disappeared at airports and has been replaced15 with “goods16 to declare” or “nothing to declare”. There are now lim-

THOSE WHO ARRIVE FOR THE FIRST

TIME IN THE UK HAVE to go through a new system requiring a minimum salary of £25,600 for skilled workers.

its on alcohol and cigarette purchases17 from the EU on entry to the UK. The Home Office18 says Border Force19 has recruited more than a thousand extra officers and is training its staff on changes to policy20 and processes. EU citizens will continue to be subject to ID21 and security checks22 and may be asked about the purpose23 of their journey. Border officials are allowed to check if they have settled or pre-settled status. However, they only do this if there is a specific reason to do so, according to the Home Office. EU citizens can continue to use e-passport gates24 and existing queues —so no separate channel for UK nationals at airports. Some EU citizens not living in the UK may need a permitted paid engagement visa if they are visiting for work.

EU CITIZENS

British nationals already settled25 in Europe have the right to remain, although with restrictions on their movements to other EU countries. EU citizens in the UK before December 31st are entitled26 to stay but they have only six months to make sure they are granted27 settled status or pre-settled status by the Home Office.

GLOSSARY

12 able to do so: pueden hacerlo 13 visa-free: sin necesidad de un visado 14 lane: carril, línea 15 to replace: sustituir 16 goods: mercancías 17 purchases: compras 18 Home Office:

Ministerio del

Interior 19 border force: autoridad froteriza 20 policy: política 21 ID: identificación (abr. identification) 22 checks: controles 23 purpose: propósito 24 e-passport gates: puertas para pasaportes electrónicos 25 to settle: asentarse, establecerse 26 to be entitled: tener derecho 27 to grant: conceder

Above: British prime minister Boris Johnson and German chancellor Angela Merkel hold Brexit talks in Berlin.

BRITISH NATIONALS ALREADY SETTLED IN EUROPE HAVE THE RIGHT to remain, although with restrictions on their movements to other EU countries.

GLOSSARY

28 landlords: arrendadores 29 so far: hasta ahora 30 along with: junto con 31 tenants: arrendatarios 32 from July on: a partir de julio 33 customs: aduanas 34 supplies: suministros 35 to delay: retrasar 36 paperwork: papeleo 37 VAT: IVA (abr. valueadded tax) 38 fees: tasas 39 to clear: abonar 40 lorry: camión 41 to dub: apodar 42 truckers: camioneros 43 chilled: refrigerado 44 race horses: caballos de carrera 45 pest-free: libre de plagas 46 recipient: destinatario 47 freight: cargamento 48 consignments: remesas 49 stuck: atascados 50 depots: depósitos 51 in a row: consecutivamente 52 a further: otros 53 UK-based: con domicilio en el Reino

Unido 54 panel: comité 55 lectures: conferencias 56 advocacy: defensa, apoyo 57 assignments: encargos 58 up to: hasta 59 letting agents: agente inmobiliario 60 heavy good vehicles: vehículos pesados 61 post: correo postal 62 to fine: multar

LANDLORDS AND EMPLOYERS

Landlords28 and employers face sanctions for employing or renting to people not entitled to be in the country, but Brexit does not mean an immediate change for those employing EU citizens already in the UK. There are no immediate changes for landlords. Until June 30th right-torent checks will continue in the same way as they have so far29 for EU citizens, along with30 those from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Landlords will not, for example, need to make retrospective checks for existing tenants31 from 2021. However, the government has not published any clear guidance to ensure landlords understand their responsibilities from July on32 .

CUSTOMS33

Eurotunnel and the ports of Dover and Calais all agree they do not expect a repeat of the horrific scenes seen on Kent roads before Christmas. There won’t be food shortages, but some supplies34 will be delayed35 until companies get used to doing the right paperwork36 before they get to Dover. All businesses are required to provide a customs declaration on goods sent into the EU, including Ireland and Northern Ireland (which follows EU customs rules). They must also know if VAT37 is applicable and ensure fees38 are cleared39 before transit or on arrival.

SPEAK UP Brexit Explained

The negotations for a Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU have been long and painful, and there are still many aspects that are unclear. Nevertheless, here’s a brief explanation of some of the issues mentioned in the article. More information can be found at the UK government’s official Brexit website: www.gov.uk/transition

Settled Status or Pre-Settled Status:

The rights of EU citizens —and those of the European Economic Area (EEA: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Switzerland— living in the UK will remain the same until 30 June 2021. To continue living and working in the UK after that date, they must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. If the application is accepted, they will be given either settled status or pre-settled status.

Settled Status:

In order to get settled status the candidate must have lived in the UK for a continuous five-year period . That means that he or she must have spent at least six months in any twelve-month period in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for five years in a row51. Or, have both lived in the UK for a continuous fiveyear period in the past and have not left the UK for more than five years in a row since then.

Pre-Settled Status:

This status is given if the candidate does not have five years’ continuous residence but has been living in the UK before 31st December 2020, unless he or she is applying as the existing close family member of a EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. If accepted, the applicant can stay in the UK for a further52 five years from the acceptance date but must apply for settled status before its expiry date in order to stay.

Lorry40 drivers going into Kent must have all the correct paperwork by applying online for a Kent Access Permit, dubbed41 the “Brexit truckers’42 passport”. Those carrying chilled43, frozen food or animals, including race horses44, will need health certificates for their cargo to prove to the French they are disease- and pest-free45. Businesses also have to have an economic operators registration and identification system for the exporter and the recipient46, including special numbers for Northern Ireland. Freight47 owners who have not supplied drivers with the correct customs paperwork or health certificates for food consignments48 will not get the Kent Access Permit they need to get into the county and will be stuck49 in depots50 and distribution centres around the country in what some call “invisible chaos”.

Published in The Guardian on December 31, 2020.Reprinted with permission.

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa:

A EU citizen may be able to visit the UK for a paid engagement; this means that the person has been invited as an expert by a UK-based53 organisation or client to do specific paid work. For example, a EU citizen can visit the UK as an academic taking part on a panel54 for an education, arts or research organisation; to give guest lectures55 at a higher education institution; to provide advocacy56 in an area of law; or to take part in arts, entertainment, sporting activities or fashion modelling assignments57 . A Permitted Paid Engagement visa costs £95 and lasts for up to58 one month, and can only be applied for three months or less before the travel date. Whether the visa is necessary or not, British authorities can ask the applicant to provide credentials, accommodation details and a return ticket at the UK border.

Right-to-Rent Checks:

Landlords or letting agents59 renting residential property must first check that the tenant can legally rent in the UK. They must check all tenants aged eighteen and over before the start of a new tenancy, even if they are not named on the tenancy agreement. If the tenant is only allowed to stay in the UK for a limited time, the check should be done in the 28 days before the start of the tenancy..

Kent Access Permit (KAP):

The KAP confirms that drivers have the right documents for EU import controls to travel specifically through Kent to the Port of Dover or the Eurotunnel and on to the EU. Drivers of heavy goods vehicles60 (HGV) of 7.5 tonnes or over must have a KAP, even if they are not carrying goods or only carrying post61. Each permit is valid for twenty-four hours. A driver could be fined62 up to £300 for entering Kent without a KAP, or for making false declarations when travelling to the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel. Additionally, drivers must have tested negative for Covid-19 up to seventy-two hours before crossing the border.

PM Boris Johnson’s jovial image has given way to one of worry as the UK, which has some of the highest reported deaths from coronavirus in the world, faces an uncertain future outside the EU.