No-deal Brexit: how to proceed with the EU-funded projects involving British partners?

The Brexit deal has been voted down. Premier May didn’t succeed in getting enough votes to complete her deal, but managed to survive the vote of no-confidence that followed. As a result of the no-deal, there is chaos, uncertainty and only one question: ‘What now?’. May, the EU and European heads of government will, of course, consult with each other to see how a hard Brexit can be averted. On the one hand, the EU wants to do its best, as is clear from the reactions. But how are we going to continue with the EU-funded projects involving British project partners?

Draft Withdrawal Agreement is disapproved

Due to the disapproval of ‘May’s deal’ by the British parliament, the Draft Withdrawal Agreement, which among other things included that the UK can continue to use the programs and activities from the Multiannual Financial Framework until 2020, is currently out of the question. This means that  from the EU perspective there is no guarantee that after the Brexit the EU-funding will continue unabated for projects with British partners. To underline this, the EU is currently including a text in every evaluation letter indicating that the funding of a project will only be honoured till the end if the Withdrawal Agreement is made. If not, British partners will lose the right for the EU-funding or will have the opportunity to end their participation in the project. This means that the establishment of a new deal between the UK and EU before the Brexit date of 29 March 2019 is, therefore, still very important.

> http://ec.europa.eu/budget/mff/programmes/index_en.cfm

 

Certainty from England

Earlier we already reported that in September 2018, the British Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy composed a Q&A about Horizon 2020 including the ‘underwrite guarantee’. In this Q&A, the Institution offers a reassurance that, if the Withdrawal Agreement will not be signed, the British government guarantees to continue the Horizon 2020 obligations during the entire duration of the project.

> https://www.gov.uk/government/news/funding-from-eu-programmes-guaranteed-until-the-end-of-2020

How to manage Brexit consequences

In this pandemonium, the Brexit voucher offers a modest safe haven. The voucher offers Dutch SMEs the opportunity to look for professional advice with specific recommendations and actions to manage the negative consequences of Brexit for their company. This advice include reactions to alternative markets for export or import, a rating of those markets or the consequences for transport, logistics and other business processes. The Brexit voucher gives rights to a fund of 2.500 euros. Would you like to know what Brexit consequences there are for you company? Complete this Impact Scan to map possible disadvantages of Brexit in your case.

https://rvo.regelhulpenvoorbedrijven.nl/brexitimpactscan/#/welkom