Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Cretu believes it is only logical that the United Kingdom honour its commitments on cohesion policy payments until 2023. This she made clear at a press conference on Thursday 2 March in Warsaw where she was attending a Committee of the Regions meeting (see other article).
While pointing out that the UK has yet to trigger Article 50 of the treaty that will begin the process of leaving the EU, the commissioner said she felt it was only logical that the United Kingdom continue to meet its budgetary commitments as part of cohesion policy. “Not just until 2020 but, indeed, until 2023”, she stated. Cohesion policy payments are expected to be made for up to three years after the end of the current period in 2019, in order to fund projects begun towards the end of the multiannual financial framework.
There is all the more reason for the United Kingdom to do so as it voted for the 2014-2020 budget and the country-by-country allocations, the commissioner said.
In making this point, Cretu was indicating that this issue will form part of the negotiation package of Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator.
This is also a matter of disquiet in the European Parliament. MEPs on the regional development committee are in the process of preparing their position that will be included in the resolution on the stance the Parliament will adopt with regard to Brexit; a resolution that is expected to be adopted in April after Article 50 has been triggered.
The potential impact of Brexit on the cohesion policy budgetary envelope has already been highlighted by EUROPE following a Parliamentary study on the matter (see EUROPE 11723). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)