London Investing Massively in Border Security Measures
London aims to create the top-notch border system by the end of next year. They've spent close to £5 billion on this project thus far, but the Court of Auditors believes they're far from their target.
Brexit has cost the UK millions just on border management alone, and the Court of Auditors estimates that they've spent at least £4.7 billion (€5.5 billion) so far. Frequent postponements and changes in full import control implementation have created confusion for businesses and raised expenses for the government and ports, according to an announcement from London.
The British government announced their plans to establish "the most effective border in the world" by 2025 after exiting the EU. However, the Court of Auditors notes that the strategy contains no clear implementation roadmap and lacks a comprehensive cross-department plan. The government, on the other hand, insists they're on the right track.
The UK officially left the EU at the end of January 2020. After a transitional period, they stopped being part of the EU customs union and single market in 2021. The EU enforced full import controls on January 1, 2021, but the UK has pushed this several times.
The Court of Auditors found that the government spent money on infrastructure and personnel that ultimately went unused. For instance, £62 million was given for two border control buildings near Dover that were never used. "The UK's exit from the European Union has triggered comprehensive changes in the regulations governing the transportation of goods across the border," said Gareth Davies, the head of the Court of Auditors. "Yet, over three years after the end of the transition period, it is not apparent when full controls will be introduced."
Partial controls are currently active. Checks for animal and plant products commenced since the end of April. Importers of certain foods, such as bacon, cheese, and yogurt, as well as cut flowers, must pay a £145 (€169) 'common user fee' per load. Warnings about lengthier delivery times, additional bureaucracy, and rising expenses are being voiced by experts and business owners, who insist these extra costs will eventually be passed on to UK shoppers.
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Britain's ambitious goal to establish the best border controls in Great Britain by 2025, post-Brexit, has faced criticism from the Court of Auditors due to a lack of a clear implementation plan and sufficient funding utilization. Despite spending over £5 billion on border security measures, the UK continues to grapple with unutilized infrastructure and high expenses, particularly in areas like Dover.
Source: www.ntv.de
