Britain could pull £1.5bn in foreign aid from EU projects in the event of a no deal Brexit, says Penny Mordaunt
2 min read
Penny Mordaunt will today warn that Britain could pull over a billion pounds in foreign aid from EU projects in the event of a no deal Brexit.
The International Development Secretary will warn EU leaders that £1.5m in foreign aid funding could be halted if British aid groups are barred from taking part in EU-run projects.
Last year, the UK funnelled £884m into EU development funds to be used for humanitarian projects around the world.
But Ms Mordaunt is expected to write to EU officials telling them the Government will instead hand the cash directly to UK charities if they are excluded from projects in the wake of a no deal Brexit.
The warning comes after British firms reported that the EU was making it harder for them to apply for funding.
Ms Mordaunt told British development groups that it was “neither in the EU’s nor the UK’s interest that organisations which are best-placed are prevented from delivering our programmes.”
The comments come as Ministers prepare to release the first batch of around 70 technical notices offering advice to business, public bodies and the public on how best to prepare for the possibility of Britain leaving the EU without a deal.
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab will unveil the documents today and insist ministers are taking the "responsible" approach to the future of the country.
In a letter of British NGOs, Ms Mordaunt writes: “The UK wants to work closely with the EU after we leave, including on development. However, if the UK is contributing to EU fund and projects, UK NGOs must have access to this funding.
“I am clear that it is not tenable for the UK to choose to fund programmes through the EU without the expectation that UK organisations can compete for the chance to implement these programmes. This principle must be a key part of the productive and effective development relationship we hope to establish with the EU after exit.”
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