What a difference a decade can make: cohesion policy and Brexit

A United Kingdom withdrawal from the European Union will leave the UK Government and Devolved Administrations free to determine the approach to spatial economic policy in the UK. However, the UK Government’s previous ‘renationalisation’ proposals elaborated a continuation of a regional policy firmly entrenched within an EU framework, aligned with EU priorities and goals and with matching (domestic) financial allocations.

A valid alternative framework and funding mechanism for the policy has not been determined, suggesting a policy vacuum in this area in the event of a Brexit. This threatens to be accompanied by a financial vacuum in regions that are net beneficiaries of the EU, where economic policy has been determined in the context of significant EU receipts.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

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