The European Parliament approved on Tuesday 22 October in Strasbourg the emergency measures to guarantee, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, payments from the EU budget in 2020 to British beneficiaries such as universities, local communities, farmers and young people participating in the Erasmus+ programme (see EUROPE 12349/7).
This decision is contingent on the United Kingdom paying its share into the EU budget. The European Commission is also considering a proposal on emergency measures in the event that the United Kingdom refuses to pay its contribution to the EU budget for 2020 (see EUROPE 12345/6).
British researchers, students and farmers would continue to receive EU support, even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, under provisions adopted by MEPs on Monday.
The draft regulation extends to 2020 the contingency plan already approved, previously limited to 2019. The measure includes programmes such as Horizon 2020, Erasmus+, as well as agricultural and regional policies.
The draft recommendation by rapporteur Johan Van Overtveldt (ECR, Belgium) endorsing the approval of the proposal was adopted with 543 votes in favour, 30 against and 46 abstentions. The regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency and apply from the day following that on which the Treaties ceased to apply to and in the United Kingdom. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)