Marc Joulaud MEP (EPP, France) is looking at the possibility of creating a fund for the European economic territories and sectors directly affected by the planned exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union at the end of March 2019. It has received the support of several delegations from the EPP group at the European Parliament.
The fund would support the regions that are the first to be affected by Brexit, such as the Irish regions but also those in the Atlantic Ark and North Sea and, more generally, the regions that are highly dependent on the British economy. With regard to the economic sectors, the fund could be used in the fisheries and tourism sectors.
The project is just in its very first stages and the way forward for promoting this idea (initiative report, legislative initiative report or something else) has not yet been decided.
One source informed us that, “for the time being we are seeking political support” and that Mr Joulaud intends to work with all organisations and institutions that support this idea, such as the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR) (see EUROPE 11825) and the Committee of the Regions (CoR).
The project has received the support of several delegations at the EPP, which are directly affected by Brexit.
During a visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland, the Vice President of the Regional Council and French Hauts-De-France region and member of the CoR, François Decoster (ALDE, France), recently proposed examining a mechanism introduced in 2001 by Michel Barnier when he was the Commissioner for Regional Policy, to help border regions deal with the entry of the new member states (see EUROPE 12025) and to do likewise today for the regions that have land or maritime borders with the United Kingdom.
In a survey carried out amongst local and regional organisations and the Chamber of Commerce by the CoR in March, 3 to 4 fifths of respondents said that they wanted European action in this regard (see EUROPE 11985). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)