101 UK Brexit Notes

Connemara Programme October 16 2018 pg. 102 Project Funding: European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) Purpose This notice sets out how current and future European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes 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 ETC programmes  already get funding from the ETC programmes Before 29 March 2019 The purpose of this notice is to explain what happens if the UK leaves the EU without a negotiated agreement, in the unlikely event of a ‘no deal’. It is for UK organisations who participate or want to apply for European Territorial Cooperation in the current Multiannual Financial Framework (the EU budget). The current European Territorial Cooperation programmes support projects that enable businesses, universities, local and regional authorities and the voluntary and community sectors in different countries to work together on shared issues. These programmes bring together organisations that collaborate in designing new solutions and approaches, drawing on the knowledge and expertise of participating groups and individuals. They fund projects on a range of priorities, including business competitiveness, innovation, renewable energy, health, transport, tourism and culture, and climate change and the environment. Current delivery arrangements Organisations in different EU countries apply together for funding on a competitive basis. A single organisation acts as the lead partner for the whole project, on behalf of all other organisations who are involved in that project. If the application is approved, the lead partner signs an agreement with the Managing Authority, with a partnership agreement governing relationships between all project partners. The lead partner coordinates claims and payments for all project partners through a process that involves the Managing Authority and the European Commission. The Managing Authority monitors the delivery of projects. Every project partner is subject to audit procedures, which ensures EU funding rules have been followed. Programme governance The UK participates in fifteen European Territorial Cooperation programmes, for which th e Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ( BEIS) oversees the overall policy and coordination across the UK. Th e Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) oversees UK interests in the nine programmes involving English project partners. UK interests in the other six programmes are overseen by the Devolved Administrations or HM Government of Gibraltar. A summary of these fifteen programmes is provided in the section on ‘Further Information.’ Each European Territorial Cooperation programme is managed by a separate Managing Authority, with two UK-based Managing Authorities and one joint North-South Managing Authority between Northern Ireland and Ireland. These Managing Authorities manage programmes on behalf of the EU countries who participate in each programme. These programmes are funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This is funded by the contributions by the UK and other EU countries as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework. There is separate national financing from non-EU partners where they participate in programmes. Managing Authorities are responsible for managing the flow of funding with the European Commission and for certification and payment of claims to project partners. After March 2019 if there’s no deal Guarantee Explanation In the unlikely event of a ‘no deal’ scenario, the UK’s departure from the EU would mean UK organisations may be unable to access EU funding for European Territorial Cooperation projects after exit day. Th e Chancellor announced in August and October 2016 t hat 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 ETC projects. In July 2018, the government extended the guarantee t o provide further stability for UK organisations in a no-deal scenario. The guarantee for European Territorial Cooperation programmes now covers the full 2014 to 2020 programme period.