The European Council MEPs have adopted rules to safeguard the Channel Tunnel’s (“Chunnel”) safety and cooperation. The legislation was agreed upon on 14 October 2020, to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the railway connection between continental Europe and the United Kingdom after the end of the Brexit transition period. Agreement on the continued smooth operation is important, as the tunnel carries high-speed Eurostar passenger trains, the Eurotunnel Shuttle for road vehicles—the largest such transport in the world—and international freight trains used for moving goods from UK to mainland Europe.

The main aim of this legislation would be to maintain the same set of rules governing the whole railway tunnel once the UK has the status of a third country.