The post-Brexit border checks are expected to cost taxpayers in the United Kingdom at least $6 billion after repeated delays in setting new rules, according to a report released by the parliament’s spending watchdog, on Monday (May 20).&nbsp;

<h2>‘Significant issues’</h2>

The UK’s National Audit Office (NAO) report noted that the plans to bring in border checks on goods entering the country from the European Union faced “significant issues” including critical shortages of inspectors before their introduction last month.&nbsp;

Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016, but it was not until this year that the country set up the new rules given to untangle supply chains and erect customs borders.&nbsp;

The second phase of the UK’s new post-Brexit border controls for food imports began on April 30, when the government introduced physical checks for so-called “medium risk” animal products, plants and plant products.

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The move in April followed the first phase of the UK’s so-called new Border Target Operating Model which required additional certification and came into force on January 31.&nbsp;

The third phase would require safety and security declarations and is slated for the end of October.&nbsp;

The government report estimates that it will spend at least $6 billion on the 13 most significant border-related programmes over their lifetimes out of which $3.3 billion had been spent by March last year.&nbsp;

The report found that the Cabinet Office’s confidence in the second phase had been rated as “amber” at the start of the year, which means that while the implementation was “feasible”, there were “significant issues that required management attention”.

In this case, it is the difficulty to recruit and train port health authority inspectors who would be responsible for conducting the checks.&nbsp;

<h2>Repeated delays</h2>

The British government has delayed the implementation of full control of the passage of goods across the border post-Brexit five times since the end of the EU exit transition period on December 31, 2020.&nbsp;

The delay in implementation, according to the report, has not only caused uncertainty for businesses and led to extra costs for government and ports, but also increased the biosecurity risk to the UK.&nbsp;

“The repeated delays in introducing import controls, and difficulties forecasting requirements, have resulted in government expenditure on infrastructure and staff that were ultimately not needed,” the NAO stated in its report.&nbsp;

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It added, “Late announcements about policy and uncertainty about the implementation of controls have also reduced the ability of businesses and ports to prepare for changes.”&nbsp;

NAO also noted that while border processes, post-EU exit, have operated “relatively smoothly,” the businesses trading goods between the UK and the EU have faced additional costs and administrative burdens.&nbsp;

The watchdog also slammed the UK’s hopes to have the “world’s most effective border” by 2025 saying that the plan lacked “a clear timetable and an integrated cross-government delivery plan, with individual departments leading different aspects of implementation.”

The NAO also asked the government to take “a more realistic approach” to digital transformation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The post-Brexit border checks are expected to cost taxpayers in the United Kingdom at least $6 billion after repeated delays in setting new rules, according to a report released by the parliament’s spending watchdog, on Monday (May 20).

The post-Brexit border checks are expected to cost taxpayers in the United Kingdom at least $6 billion after repeated delays in setting new rules, according to a report released by the parliament’s spending watchdog, on Monday (May 20). ‘Significant issues’ The UK’s National Audit Office (NAO) report noted that the plans to bring in border checks on goods entering the country from the European Union faced “significant issues” including critical shortages of inspectors before their introduction last month. Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016, but it was not until this year that the country set up the new rules given to untangle supply chains and erect customs borders. The second phase of the UK’s new post-Brexit border controls for food imports began on April 30, when the government introduced physical checks for so-called “medium risk” animal products, plants and plant products. Also Read | Sunak's inflation victory faces voter doubts The move in April followed the first phase of the UK’s so-called new Border Target Operating Model which required additional certification and came into force on January 31. The third phase would require safety and security declarations and is slated for the end of October. The government report estimates that it will spend at least $6 billion on the 13 most significant border-related programmes over their lifetimes out of which $3.3 billion had been spent by March last year. The report found that the Cabinet Office’s confidence in the second phase had been rated as “amber” at the start of the year, which means that while the implementation was “feasible”, there were “significant issues that required management attention”. In this case, it is the difficulty to recruit and train port health authority inspectors who would be responsible for conducting the checks. Repeated delays The British government has delayed the implementation of full control of the passage of goods across the border post-Brexit five times since the end of the EU exit transition period on December 31, 2020. The delay in implementation, according to the report, has not only caused uncertainty for businesses and led to extra costs for government and ports, but also increased the biosecurity risk to the UK. “The repeated delays in introducing import controls, and difficulties forecasting requirements, have resulted in government expenditure on infrastructure and staff that were ultimately not needed,” the NAO stated in its report. Also Read | US regulators may cut bank capital hikes It added, “Late announcements about policy and uncertainty about the implementation of controls have also reduced the ability of businesses and ports to prepare for changes.” NAO also noted that while border processes, post-EU exit, have operated “relatively smoothly,” the businesses trading goods between the UK and the EU have faced additional costs and administrative burdens. The watchdog also slammed the UK’s hopes to have the “world’s most effective border” by 2025 saying that the plan lacked “a clear timetable and an integrated cross-government delivery plan, with individual departments leading different aspects of implementation.” The NAO also asked the government to take “a more realistic approach” to digital transformation. (With inputs from agencies)

Post-Brexit border arrangements expected to cost UK taxpayers $6 billion

Britain and the EU kick off a third round of Brexit talks Monday still sharply divided over what comes first, London&#39;s future relationship with the bloc or the costly divorce settlement.

The European Union says there has to be &quot;sufficient progress&quot; in three key areas, EU citizen rights, Northern Ireland&#39;s border and the exit bill, before it will turn to post-Brexit arrangements, possibly beginning in October.

Britain says the two strands should be negotiated in parallel, arguing that progress on a free trade deal may even help resolve other sticky issues such as the future EU-UK border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

That is a complete no-go for Brussels, with officials saying they expected little progress in bridging a &quot;very big gap&quot; at this week&#39;s talks.

They also blamed Britain for a &quot;lack of substance&quot; despite a flurry of position papers they said were strong on aspiration but short on detail.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier meanwhile listed on Twitter the EU&#39;s own negotiating documents, noting: &quot;EU positions clear and transparent since day one.&quot;

Barnier meets his British counterpart David Davis late afternoon for a first exchange, followed by three days of talks and a joint press conference.&nbsp;

Both sides have repeatedly warned that the clock is ticking down to the March 2019 Brexit deadline and that they are the ones doing their best to make progress. Davis said Monday this week&#39;s talks were all about &quot;driving forward the technical discussions across all the issues.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;In order to do that, we&#39;ll require flexibility and imagination from both sides,&quot; he said.

&quot;We&#39;re ready to roll up our sleeves and get down to work once more.&quot;&nbsp;

Asked about the British approach, the European Commission refused to be drawn Monday.

&quot;Let&#39;s have the negotiators do their negotiation... as for flexibility, we are working within the mandate given us by the European Council (of member states),&quot; EU spokeswoman Lucia Caudet said.

The talks take place amid continued turmoil in Britain, with the opposition Labour Party over the weekend backing a &quot;soft&quot; Brexit whereby the country remains in the EU&#39;s customs union and the single market for a transition period.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said she wants Britain unequivocally out of both but her position has been crippled since a June election gamble backfired and she lost her parliamentary majority.

May remains in office thanks to a deal with Northern Ireland&#39;s ultra-conservative Democratic Unionist Party which views the EU-member Republic with deep suspicion.

EU officials warned last week that the hard-won Northern Ireland peace process could not be used as a bargaining chip.

London&#39;s hopeful suggestion that technology could help prevent the border becoming a physical barrier to trade and the peace process was just &quot;a lot of magical thinking,&quot; one EU official said.

Britain also said the European Court of Justice could continue to have an indirect influence, softening its position that the EU&#39;s top court would not have any say in the country at all.

But again this was not enough, EU officials said.&nbsp;

The rights of more than three million EU citizens in Britain and one million Britons in Europe arose from EU law remains the remit of the ECJ.

&quot;There is no other possibility,&quot; one official said.

As for Britain`s divorce settlement, estimated at up to 100 billion euros in Brussels but much less at 40 billion according to reports in London, EU officials said the talks were not about fixing a number but about agreeing how to work out the bill.

&quot;We have to have a methodology sufficiently detailed so that commitments made to various beneficiaries of the EU budget will be honored,&quot; one of the EU officials said.

Britain and the EU kick off a third round of Brexit talks still sharply divided over what comes first, London's future relationship with the bloc or the costly divorce settlement

Britain and the EU kick off a third round of Brexit talks Monday still sharply divided over what comes first, London's future relationship with the bloc or the costly divorce settlement. The European Union says there has to be "sufficient progress" in three key areas, EU citizen rights, Northern Ireland's border and the exit bill, before it will turn to post-Brexit arrangements, possibly beginning in October. Britain says the two strands should be negotiated in parallel, arguing that progress on a free trade deal may even help resolve other sticky issues such as the future EU-UK border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. That is a complete no-go for Brussels, with officials saying they expected little progress in bridging a "very big gap" at this week's talks. They also blamed Britain for a "lack of substance" despite a flurry of position papers they said were strong on aspiration but short on detail. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier meanwhile listed on Twitter the EU's own negotiating documents, noting: "EU positions clear and transparent since day one." Barnier meets his British counterpart David Davis late afternoon for a first exchange, followed by three days of talks and a joint press conference. Both sides have repeatedly warned that the clock is ticking down to the March 2019 Brexit deadline and that they are the ones doing their best to make progress. Davis said Monday this week's talks were all about "driving forward the technical discussions across all the issues." "In order to do that, we'll require flexibility and imagination from both sides," he said. "We're ready to roll up our sleeves and get down to work once more." Asked about the British approach, the European Commission refused to be drawn Monday. "Let's have the negotiators do their negotiation... as for flexibility, we are working within the mandate given us by the European Council (of member states)," EU spokeswoman Lucia Caudet said. The talks take place amid continued turmoil in Britain, with the opposition Labour Party over the weekend backing a "soft" Brexit whereby the country remains in the EU's customs union and the single market for a transition period. Prime Minister Theresa May has said she wants Britain unequivocally out of both but her position has been crippled since a June election gamble backfired and she lost her parliamentary majority. May remains in office thanks to a deal with Northern Ireland's ultra-conservative Democratic Unionist Party which views the EU-member Republic with deep suspicion. EU officials warned last week that the hard-won Northern Ireland peace process could not be used as a bargaining chip. London's hopeful suggestion that technology could help prevent the border becoming a physical barrier to trade and the peace process was just "a lot of magical thinking," one EU official said. Britain also said the European Court of Justice could continue to have an indirect influence, softening its position that the EU's top court would not have any say in the country at all. But again this was not enough, EU officials said. The rights of more than three million EU citizens in Britain and one million Britons in Europe arose from EU law remains the remit of the ECJ. "There is no other possibility," one official said. As for Britain`s divorce settlement, estimated at up to 100 billion euros in Brussels but much less at 40 billion according to reports in London, EU officials said the talks were not about fixing a number but about agreeing how to work out the bill. "We have to have a methodology sufficiently detailed so that commitments made to various beneficiaries of the EU budget will be honored," one of the EU officials said.

Brexit talks face 'very big gap' as new round begins

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Post-Brexit border arrangements expected to cost UK taxpayers $6 billion

Brexit talks face 'very big gap' as new round begins