French attempts to “reduce Ireland’s share” of the EU Brexit Adjustment Fund must be resisted, Midlands North West MEP Chris MacManus has said.
The EU’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) is designed to help countries most negatively affected by the UK’s departure from the EU, with Ireland expected to gain around €1.05 billion of this.
Commenting earlier this week, on Thursday, March 18, MacManus said: “The French attempt to change the proposal is transparently a political and electoral move ahead of upcoming elections.
“It is no coincidence the ringleader is from President Macron’s party. This is too important an issue to be playing politics with.”
I am calling on MEPs to resist any changes that would see Ireland lose out. It is established beyond any doubt that Ireland will suffer more directly than other countries and if anything, we deserve a larger share of this fund.
“It is abundantly clear that communities in the border region are already suffering severely post-Brexit. Urgent intervention is needed.”
MacManus concluded by calling on Irish representatives to work together.
“I am concerned that opening up the proposal could lead to significant delays. Irish MEPs and the government must defend what we have,” the Sinn Féin MEP said.