European organisations need to prepare more intensively for the Brexit. Indeed, the UK's departure from the European Union will have major consequences.
This is what the European Commission is warning about. Governments, businesses and individuals alike should accelerate their preparations for 'all scenarios', according to a communication.
"The European Union is working hard to reach an agreement for an orderly withdrawal," the message reads. "However, there is no certainty that an agreement will be reached. And even if agreement is reached, the UK's relationship with the European Union will no longer be that of a member state and will be in a fundamentally different situation."
The Brexit is scheduled for 30 March 2019. The question is whether an agreement on the future relationship between the British and Brussels will be reached before then. The European Commission argues that regardless of any agreement, the UK's departure will cause disruption.
If a withdrawal agreement does pass by 30 March, a transition period will go into effect. The UK will then no longer be subject to European law from 1 January 2021.
However, this transition period will expire if London and Brussels fail to reach an agreement. European legislation will then immediately cease to apply to Britain. In that case, for instance, customs controls will be introduced.
