Continuation of the territorial cooperation programmes PEACE IV and United Kingdom-Ireland in the context of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU

The Committee on Regional Development adopted the report by Iskra MIHAYLOVA (ALDE, BG) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council in order to allow for the continuation of the territorial cooperation programmes PEACE IV (Ireland-United Kingdom) and United Kingdom-Ireland (Ireland-Northern Ireland-Scotland) in the context of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal.

The United Kingdom is due to withdraw from the European Union from 30 March 2019 in accordance with the procedure set out by Article 50 TEU. A withdrawal treaty has been negotiated that would deal with many practical and legal problems during the transitional period.

In the event of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom without an agreement, one key step the EU can take is to provide for a derogation allowing the continuation of the PEACE IV and United Kingdom-Ireland cooperation programmes, which play an important part in building positive cross-border and cross-community relations.

The Commission's proposal under consideration aims to allow these two programmes to continue at least until the end of the current programming period (2014-2020).