UK: In no-deal Brexit, EU seeks to avoid short-term crash

The EU set out short-term measures Wednesday to limit disruption to air traffic, financial services and trade if Britain left the bloc without a deal next March. However, in a sign that a no-deal Brexit would not be business as usual, there would be new checks to currently frictionless trade, which could lead to tail-backs near ports and delays to deliveries. Every shipment of live animals or animal products from Britain would face controls at EU borders and Britons would lose the right to travel with their pets using EU pet passports. The EC, which presented the plans, also warned of higher charges for using credit or debit cards because EU rules limiting such fees would no longer apply. Asked if the European Union was offering Britain a relatively attractive no-deal option, Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference the measures were simply designed to limit disruption. The Commission's measures cover transport, financial services, customs and border checks, taxation and climate change and will need to be backed by the European Parliament and the 27 countries remaining in the EU. The EU executive proposed allowing British airlines to fly to and from EU airports for 12 months, assuming Britain offered equivalent rights to EU airlines.<br/>