Northern Ireland should continue getting EU regional funds post-2020, when the Brexit transition period ends, the Regional Development Committee stated today (Wednesday, June 20).

Enabling Northern Ireland to continue participating in the EU’s general cohesion funds after 2020 would be of benefit to its economic and social development – particularly in disadvantaged and rural areas, the committee MEPs noted.

EU funding for Northern Ireland should stay at its current level after 2020 and the EU should continue to reach out to both communities there, by playing an active role in managing it, says the approved text.

Finally, MEPs consider it essential that the people of Northern Ireland – and in particular young people – should continue to have access to economic, social and cultural exchanges across Europe.

The resolution still needs to be approved by the European Parliament as a whole, which is most likely to take place after the summer break, according to the MEPs. It will be forwarded to the council and commission, the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive and the governments and parliaments of EU member states and their regions.