REPORT 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

23.1.2019 - (COM(2018)0892 – C8‑0512/2018 – 2018/0432(COD)) - ***I

Committee on Regional Development
Rapporteur: Iskra Mihaylova
(Simplified procedure – Rule 50(1) of the Rules of Procedure)


Procedure : 2018/0432(COD)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A8-0021/2019
Texts tabled :
A8-0021/2019
Debates :
Texts adopted :

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

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

(COM(2018)0892 – C8‑0512/2018 – 2018/0432(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2018)0892),

–  having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 178 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C8‑0512/2018),

–  having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  after consulting the European Economic and Social Committee,

–  after consulting the Committee of the Regions,

–  having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A8-0021/2019),

A.  Whereas for reasons of urgency it is justified to proceed to the vote before the expiry of the deadline of eight weeks laid down in Article 6 of Protocol No 2 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality;

1.  Adopts its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal;

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

In accordance with the procedure set out by Article 50 TEU, the United Kingdom is due to withdraw from the European Union from 30 March 2019. A withdrawal treaty has been negotiated that would deal with many practical and legal problems during the transitional period: this treaty also provides for the continuation of the European cross-border cohesion programmes between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

However, it is at this time unclear whether the United Kingdom will ratify the withdrawal treaty. The withdrawal of the United Kingdom without such an agreement would cause particular hardship in Northern Ireland and the border areas of Ireland, as their status under the Good Friday Agreement, which guarantees peace, is dependent on both parts of the island being in the European Union, with open borders.

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 thus aims to allow the continuation, at least until the end of the current 2014-2020 programming period, of those two programmes. (The other 13 cooperation programmes in which the United Kingdom takes part, which do not affect Northern Ireland, will not benefit from this exception, and funding will in principle end on 29 March 2019.)

The proposal does this by providing that funding to Northern Ireland (and the parts of western Scotland covered by the United Kingdom-Ireland cooperation programme) continue as provided for in the INTERREG Regulation (No 1299/2013). Furthermore, the standard rule, which provides that no more of 20% of a cooperation programme’s budget may be spent outside the EU, will not apply to these two programmes, as spending in Northern Ireland would otherwise be restricted (Article 20(2)(b) of Regulation No 1299/2013).

The Special EU Programmes Body will remain the managing and certifying authority for these two programmes, and the Department of Finance of Northern Ireland will continue to be the competent audit authority. It is proposed that the Commission and the United Kingdom agree how controls and audit will be carried out, and safeguards are foreseen for the eventuality that this proves not to be possible.

The Committee on Regional Development carried out a mission to Northern Ireland in March 2018, and followed this up with an implementation report: this established the importance of the PEACE IV Programme in particular for life there. Your rapporteur therefore proposes that this urgent legislation should be approved without amendment, under the simplified procedure (Rule 50(1) of the Rules of Procedure). She hopes, of course, that the proposed regulation will be superseded by a more satisfactory global arrangement, such as the withdrawal agreement.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Title

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

References

COM(2018)0892 – C8-0512/2018 – 2018/0432(COD)

Date submitted to Parliament

20.12.2018

 

 

 

Committee responsible

       Date announced in plenary

REGI

14.1.2019

 

 

 

Committees asked for opinions

       Date announced in plenary

BUDG

14.1.2019

CONT

14.1.2019

 

 

Not delivering opinions

       Date of decision

BUDG

23.1.2019

CONT

22.1.2019

 

 

Rapporteurs

       Date appointed

Iskra Mihaylova

22.1.2019

 

 

 

Simplified procedure - date of decision

22.1.2019

Discussed in committee

22.1.2019

 

 

 

Date adopted

22.1.2019

 

 

 

Date tabled

23.1.2019

Last updated: 7 February 2019
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