101 UK Brexit Notes

Connemara Programme October 16 2018 pg. 100 Project Funding: European Regional Development Fund Purpose This notice sets out how current and future European Regional Development Fund projects would be affected if the UK leaves the EU with no deal. Find out how this would affect you if you:  want to apply for funding from the European Regional Development Fund;  already get funding from the European Regional Development Fund. Before 29 March 2019 The current European Regional Development Fund Programme provides funding to support regional growth and reduce differences in economic performance between regions. The programmes are managed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in England, and by Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as HM Government of Gibraltar. The draft Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU published in March 2018 would mean that the UK would continue to participate in the European Regional Development programmes until programmes end in 2023, subject to a final negotiated agreement. This provides certainty to regions and communities, who will continue to receive the same level of funding as they would have if the UK was a member of the EU until the end of the 2014-2020 programme period. Funding is currently administered through organisations who are awarded grants and contracts on a competitive basis and a range of business finance models that provide venture capital and loan finance. After March 2019 if there’s no deal In the unlikely event of a ‘no-deal’ scenario, the UK’s departure from the EU would mean UK organisations would be unable to access EU funding for European Regional Development Fund projects after exit day. We are committed to ensuring that there will be no gap in funding for regional growth in the event of a no-deal. Th e Chancellor announced in August and October 2016 that the government would guarantee certain EU projects agreed before we leave the EU in order to provide more certainty for UK organisations over the course of EU exit. This guarantee included European Regional Development Fund projects. In July 201 8 the government extended the guarantee s o that it would cover all projects, including European Regional Development Fund projects, that would have been funded by the EU under the 2014-2020 programme period. The extension means that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Devolved Administrations, and HM Government of Gibraltar, will continue to sign new projects after EU exit until programme closure. This practical measure provides additional certainty to communities, businesses and local partners, guaranteeing investment in regional growth up to the end of the current European Regional Development Fund programmes period, in the unlikely event that the UK leaves the EU without a negotiated agreement. Actions for businesses and other stakeholders In order to ensure stability and continuity, UK Managing Authorities would administer the guarantee through existing national and local arrangements, modified and simplified as appropriate in line with wider rules on public spending. Projects will be managed to ensure appropriate audit, monitoring and evaluation arrangements are in place and that all spending delivers good value for money and fits domestic strategic priorities. Organisations should continue applying for and delivering funding under current arrangements with confidence that the funding guarantee applies if there is no negotiated agreement between the UK and the EU.