UK Researchers, students and farmers would continue to get EU support in the event of a no-deal Brexit, under provisions adopted by the Budgets Committee on Monday.

The Budget Committee approved a measure to make sure that EU funds for 2019 and 2020 are fully available if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal. The draft regulation extends to 2020 the contingency plan approved by European Parliament on 17 April 2019, previously limited to 2019.

The aim is to minimise any negative impact of the UK's withdrawal for beneficiaries of EU funding and for the European Union budget in the case of a no-deal scenario. The measure includes programmes such as Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ and agriculture and regional policies.

The proposal would make it possible to continue payments to UK beneficiaries throughout 2020, provided the UK continues to pay its contributions and accepts the necessary controls and audits.

The draft recommendation by rapporteur Johan Van Overtveldt (ECR, BE), Chair of the Committee on Budgets, endorsing the approval of the proposal, was adopted with 26 votes in favour, 4 against, and 3 abstentions.

Next steps

The plenary vote will take place during the 21-24 October II session in Strasbourg.

The regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency and apply from the day following that on which the Treaties ceased to apply to and in the UK.