Credit: Wikipedia /  The Channel Tunnel, also referred to as the Chunnel, is a 50.45-kilometre (31.35 mi) railway tunnel that connects Folkestone (Kent, England, UK) with Coquelles (Hauts-de-France, France) beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover.

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The European Union is working on legislation to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the Channel Tunnel railway connection between continental Europe and the United Kingdom   after the end of the Brexit transition period.  The Council’s Permanent Representatives Committee  on Wednesday agreed on a negotiation mandate on two proposals aimed at maintaining a single safety authority, which would continue to apply the same set of rules over the whole infrastructure, including in its section under UK jurisdiction. 

How Will BREXIT Impact Channel Tunnel Operations ?

Will The Channel Tunnel Operate Normally After Brexit?

“Yes – the Channel Tunnel will definitely be open after Brexit, and Eurotunnel will be operating as normal whatever form Brexit takes.”

-Eurotunnel.com

“We’re in the very lucky position of having the protection of The Treaty of Canterbury which was signed by France and the UK when the Channel Tunnel was conceived – this sets out that both countries will facilitate as frictionless travel as possible through the Tunnel up until 2086. We are Brexit-ready and pleased to let customers know they can book with confidence.”

CHUNNEL Prepared For BREXIT Departure

Channel Tunnel concessionaire Eurotunnel is prepared for the UK’s scheduled departure from the European Union on October 31 ‘no matter the outcome’, it said on September 2, 2019.  “Eurotunnel has made investments to enable it to continue to handle the 5 000 lorries which pass through the Channel Tunnel every day,”  according to an article in railwaygazette.com.   

The negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament on the two proposals are taking place as a matter of urgency:   EU

Currently, all matters concerning the operation of the Channel Fixed Link are supervised by an Intergovernmental Commission set up by the Treaty of Canterbury, signed between France and the UK in 1986, according to the EU.  Under the Council mandate, France will be empowered to negotiate an amendment to the Canterbury Treaty and the EU railway safety and interoperability rules will be amended so that the Intergovernmental Commission can be maintained as the safety authority competent for the application of EU law within the Channel Fixed Link. The draft regulation amending the safety and interoperability provisions will be split into two draft regulations, in order to amend the Statute of the European Court of Justice in a manner that respects the Court’s prerogatives while avoiding a delay in the start of the negotiations.

A swift adoption of the draft decision and draft regulation will allow the prompt start of the talks between France and the UK. The adoption of the amendments to the Statute of the ECJ will be essential at the end of these negotiations, before France is authorised to sign and conclude the actual agreement.

 Brexit:  Boris Johnson faces Eurotunnel Test – Guardian

Credit: twitter.com / UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson is facing a major Brexit test with the future of Eurotunnel operations at stake, it has emerged, as reported in The UK Guardian.  The EU wants the UK to drop its opposition to a role for the European court of justice in British affairs to ensure trains keep running between France and the UK after Brexit is implemented on 1 January – the Guardian.

“Unless there is an overarching deal with one body responsible for legal disputes regarding the entire 30-mile (50km) tunnel there will be chaos, insiders say.”

-The Guardian