European Scrutiny Committee questions Minister on Channel Tunnel future arrangements

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• About the European Scrutiny Committee

Purpose of the session

The Committee will question the Minister on the need to reach an agreement on the future operation of the Tunnel, its preferred alternatives to the EU’s proposals and how far talks with France have progressed.

Members will also examine the potential implications of changes to the Tunnel’s current governance for businesses and others reliant on the Tunnel on both sides of the Channel.

Post-Transition Plans

The Committee has previously warned that the lack of post-transition plans for Channel Tunnel safety raises business continuity concerns.

It has urged the Government to publish its own proposals for how it could operate rather than simply opposing EU suggestions that EU law would continue to apply on the UK side of the Tunnel after 31 December.

Last month the EU agreed that France could negotiate an agreement with the UK on the future operation of the Tunnel. This is on the condition that France should provide for the continued operation of EU law on the UK side of the Tunnel and oversight of this by the EU Court of Justice.

The Government has rejected the EU’s proposals, maintaining that any agreement must recognise the UK’s status as a sovereign nation.

Witnesses

Wednesday 16 December, 2.30pm

• Rachel Maclean MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport
• Andrea Pearson, Deputy Director, International Rail, Department for Transport

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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