First concrete results of divorce in Great Britain, Ireland and the Netherlands

The United Kingdom actually left the European Union on 1 January 2021. After years of deliberation, negotiations, laxity, Brexit is now in place. This has resulted in very concrete changes for many countries.

In Great Britain, fishing in difficulty

On the British side, it is particularly the Kovid-19 epidemic that has gained attention in recent times. The figures are worrisome, with more than 83,000 deaths from the virus in the country, it is estimated that one in 50 Britons are infected. All eyes are logically on the state of health and deployment of the vaccine.

However, some regions are already complaining about the negative impact of the new Brexit rules. For example, the DPD delivery company suspended part of its activities between the United Kingdom and the European Union, as 20% of its parcels were not properly declared by the slippers. German, Italian and Dutch bicycle manufacturers have also stopped sales in the country.

But one of the areas that suffer the most from leaving the European Union is fishing. It was fond of pro-Brexit, but British fishermen relied heavily on the export of fresh produce to the continent and are now described by the trade organization as a “wall of bureaucracy”. In Scotland alone, a third of the Travelers are currently at a standstill.

According to many economists, acquiring the last month’s deal helped prevent a very short-term disaster scenario earlier this month, especially as companies made a lot of inventory for preparation. A possible “no deal”. But in the coming weeks, the government announces major disruptions, particularly in the English ports of Dover. And over the long term, the Bank of England estimates that the country’s GDP will lose three or four points over the next ten years due to the results of Brexit.

Empty supermarket shelves in Ireland

In Ireland, the consequences of Brexit are somewhat more visible: most food imports pass through the “land bridge” between Great Britain, the island and the rest of the continent. As a result, some shelves are simply empty. We are not yet eating cabbage at every meal, but some shelves are empty in the bakery, prepared food or even shelves. Supermarkets refuse to talk about stress, but admit that some deliveries are late.

Not really surprising when you see heavy truck traffic at the port of Dublin. Talk about official versions “Too few” Same time last year. There are two reasons for this: Companies stocked before Christmas to avoid potential disruptions in the early hours of Brexit. Many, in fact, bring their products from Great Britain or Europe, for fear of administrative control over the borders, and for fear that trucks will not be blocked, delayed, and that the products are almost finished.

Officials at the ports of Dublin and Rosslare, the country’s main maritime gateway, promised that they are on deck 24/7 to assist businesses with their administrative procedures. But with the peace of traffic, customs had to reduce their control to encourage imports. This lack does not mean that nothing is controlled: health screenings are maintained, but if a company shows good faith, it proves that it has prepared for Brexit and it is simply Is under – Changes are anticipated, its products will be delayed when it arrives in Dublin. For those who would be tempted to dodge, the head of operations at the Port of Dublin intends to give the companies one to two weeks, for a few days before being relieved.

In the Netherlands, a sandwich story drives debate

In the Netherlands, also connected to the United Kingdom by boat, the new Brexit sanctions are greatly reacting. For several days, images of Dutch public television have been circulating on social networks and even crossed the borders of the Netherlands. In a report broadcast by the news program “EenVandaag”, a wharf in the United Kingdom is seen in the port of Hock van Holland, a few kilometers from The Hague and Rotterdam.

At Quail, Dutch customs strongly await travelers. The message of this customs officer is clear: “England is now the third country for the Netherlands. So there are some restrictions on products that you cannot bring back.” Surprising exchanges take place between the customs officer and a passenger. “Do you have meat in all your sandwiches? Yes, so we take them all, sorry”, The agent continues. “Can I at least take out the meat and keep the bread?”, The traveler attempts. “Everything has not been confiscated. Welcome Brexit sir, sorry”, Cut to the customs officer.

These famous sandwiches have attracted much discussion. Widely relayed by the media in the Netherlands, the British side sometimes has very negative reactions, where this brief extract has been widely relayed. But for now, we remain symbolic, as trade between the two countries is very restricted due to the health crisis and traffic in Dutch ports is not at its normal level.