Post-Brexit structural funds

Context
Following the UK's departure from the EU, it will lose access to the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESF).

If the UK remained in the European Union, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) estimates that it would be entitled to about 13 billion euros of regional development funding (under the EU Cohesion Policy) for the 2021-2027 period.

The UK Government has announced that in its place, it will introduce a UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which will be delivered by the UK Government.

It has announced a consultation on its draft plans, which have been subject to delay and are now expected to be published in February 2019.

Summary of proposals
The best way forward would be to focus on governance and accountability, transparency of finances & delivery, and much better participation in programmes as follows.


 * The Scottish Parliament must be the authority to which all replacement funds for Scottish post-Brexit structural funds is accountable.
 * Future planning and delivery of post-Brexit funds must be done transparently, following Open Government principles
 * In Scotland, engagement in the funds should be framed within the National Performance Framework as linked to the Sustainable Development Goals.
 * Third Sector, not just public sector bodies, should be allowed to be appointed as delivery agents for post-ESF funding, and directly accountable to Scottish Parliament.
 * In order to improve participation, any future funds need to be simple, streamlined, and reduce duplication of effort.

See below for potential programmes that Scotland could take forward.

Analysis
We are developing the following analysis and proposals on the basis that the Scottish Parliament becomes the authority for post-Brexit structural funds.

Priorities for the fund
The following is what we would propose to the Scottish Parliament for the design and delivery of the fund.

The priorities should be openly developed with Scotland's people and communities, including civil society organisations, and framed within Scotland's National Performance Framework.

The Scottish Government should adopt the principle of non-regression in environmental law and policy, and this must apply to the criteria surrounding the use of Structural Funds.