European Comission urged member countries and business to “step up preparations” for Britain’s imminent bloc exit next year, focusing on fears that negotiations might fail and even greater disruptions might follow.
The appeal came just as britain’s new Brexit diplomat Dominic Raab was speaking in Brussels following a crisis faced by Theresa may’s government over withdrawal strategy.
“There is still no certainty that there will be a ratified withdrawal agreement in place on that date. The U.K.’s withdrawal will undoubtedly cause disruption – for example in business supply chains – whether or not there is a deal,” the commission added.
Britons voted to leave the 28-nation bloc in June 2016, but negotiations were only launched a year later and have bogged down frequently since then.