France has announced it is to invest €50m (£44.3m) in its ports and airports to prepare the country in case of a no-deal Brexit.
Édouard Philippe, the French prime minister, announced the unexpected plan after a meeting with his ministers in Paris on Thursday morning.
He said he “strongly believed” that the UK would now leave the EU without a deal, following the British parliament’s rejection of a proposed divorce agreement this week.
“What’s certain is that the scenario of a no-deal Brexit is less and less unlikely,” he told reporters. “That’s why … I have decided to trigger the plan for a no-deal Brexit.”
He said the proposals would include money for airports and ports that are “most concerned” by the prospect of Britain’s withdrawal.
Among measures to be taken will be the hiring of 600 new staff, including customs officers and veterinary controllers, and preparing new parking areas and temporary buildings at ports.
“We want to be ready so that the interests of our citizens can be preserved,” added Mr Philippe.
The announcement follows the French parliament approving a special law earlier this week that allows for the government to impose emergency measures to deal with a no-deal Brexit.
It comes after the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, gave a scathing assesment of the UK’s approach to leaving the EU and hit out at politicians who had “lied” during the referendum campaign.
