With a Brexit no-deal scenario still on the cards, Member States of the EU and the Union itself have prepared various contingency plans to cover this eventuality. 

On January 30, 2019, a press release stated that the European Commission has adopted “final set of “no-deal” contingency measures for social security coordination rules”. 

The measures would ensure that, in the event of a no-deal scenario: 

  • Young people from the EU and the UK who are participating in the Erasmus+ programme on 30 March 2019 can complete their stay without interruption; 
  • EU Member State authorities will continue to take into account periods of insurance, (self) employment or residence in the United Kingdom before withdrawal, when calculating social security benefits, such as pensions; 
  • UK beneficiaries of EU funding would continue to receive payments under their current contracts, provided that the United Kingdom continues to honour its financial obligations under the EU budget. This issue is separate from the financial settlement between the European Union and the United Kingdom. 

The Maltese Government has also released a factsheet detailing plans in case of a no-deal Brexit. 

For more information on Brexit developments and future events, follow MEUSAC’s website and facebook page.