Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson
Ms Anderson said: “There are widespread fears about what will happen in the north post-Brexit, particularly around future funding.
“The civil service in the north has now produced a report on future funding and it clear they have concerns about a number of areas.
“The British government may have given some form of commitments on funding in a number of areas but these have not allayed fears as it is clear that, given the shambolic approach of the Tories, they are not in a position to give any guarantees.
“Despite these guarantees, the civil service have identified a shortfall over more than £10m in existing EU funding programmes. The report also raises fears for the future of many existing EU funded community projects, such as those funded under Horizon 2020, warning of a collapse existing projects.
“In particular, the civil service has flagged up serious concerns for the future of agriculture funding, including funding for vital disease control and eradication efforts which could have far-reaching and devastating consequences
for our farming sector and the huge role it plays in the economy of the north.”
The MEP said that the “stark warning” from the civil service highlighted the extent of the fears of many sectors across the north about the true impact of Brexit.
“It also calls into question the guarantees given by the British government for a no deal scenario because the Tories will not know what, if any, access they will have to EU funds in the event of a no deal Brexit.
“This adds to the growing weight of evidence that the north must secure special status within the EU to avoid the ravages of the Tory Brexit agenda,” she added.
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