The European commission has published a series of no-deal contingency plans, warning that the outcome of the Brexit trade and security negotiation “remains uncertain today, even though the end of the transition period is very near”. The proposals are said to offer poorer terms than would be contained in a trade deal and are targeted at sectors where there is seen to be no alternative. They are temporary and must be reciprocated by the UK, the commission has said. Flights For a maximum of six months, air carriers will be able to continue flights from the UK to the EU. Safety certificates for aircraft parts approved before the end of the transition period will continue to be valid for aircrafts registered in the EU. Under EU law, operating licences to fly between destinations within the bloc are reserved for airlines that are majority-owned and in effect controlled by EU, EEA or Swiss nationals. EasyJet, Ryanair and the British Airways owner IAG are all affected. The EU is providing for a six-month grace period. Roads Without a trade agreement, hauliers seeking to take freight across Europe would be reliant on successfully applying for a limited number of permits. The UK industry was granted fewer than 2,000 permits for 2021 in the annual lottery for third-country hauliers driving into the EU – a fraction of the 10,000 it needed. The European commission proposal says: “The strict limits that govern the number of permits mean that these would not be sufficient to carry goods by road between the UK and the member states and would result in serious disruptions, potentially even threatening public order.” Regular coach services would also be interrupted. The commission has offered to keep roads open to British hauliers and passenger bus services for six months. The UK government would have to commit to maintaining regulations “equivalent to those of the EU on fair competition as well as social and technical” issues. Channel tunnel Without contingency measures, the Channel tunnel would have to be shut down in the event of no deal. In order for a new legal agreement between France and the UK to be negotiated, a nine-month extension of the current authorisations is being granted. Fish The commission says ending the Brexit transition period without a deal on access to fishing waters “could be very disruptive for the economic livelihoods of coastal communities, and threaten the sustainable nature of fishing in the waters concerned”. The EU is proposing to maintain reciprocal access. There would then be a negotiation of catch quotas for next year. A UK spokesman said: “Whether we leave the transition period on Canada- or Australia-style arrangements, we will take back control of our waters. We would never accept arrangements and access to UK fishing waters which are incompatible with our future status as an independent coastal state.” Money The EU has agreed to set aside €5bn (£4.56bn) in a Brexit adjustment reserve to help member states most affected by the UK’s exit from the bloc, with or without a deal. France has been lobbying for help for its fishermen. “In terms of the regions and sectors most affected, it is already clear that a no-deal scenario poses specific risks to the EU fishing industry,” the commission said. “The proposal will reflect this reality.” Emergencies The European commission has set up a “Brexit hotline” for the governments of the 27 member states directly to contact experts in Brussels. The capitals have been told to avoid doing side deals with the UK. The commission writes: “The EU collectively has a stronger bargaining power than each member state acting alone. This bargaining power benefits all member states. It must be used to ensure a level playing field between the EU and the UK.” UK response A UK government spokesman said: “This kind of statement from the EU is expected – they set out a similar proposition in September 2019. The UK government has already set out its own plans in the event no free trade agreement is reached and we’ve said that we would discuss practical arrangements with the EU. The EU’s contingency measures were only set out this morning and we will look at the details closely.”