The Replacement of European Structural Funds In Scotland Post EU-Exit

Overview

If the UK leaves the EU it will no longer receive support from the European Structural Funds. The purpose of these funds is to “invest in job creation and a sustainable and healthy European economy and environment.” . In Scotland, they have played a vital role in reducing disparities across different parts of the country for over 40 years.

Under the current 2014-2020 programme Scotland benefits from over £780m of such funding through the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund. This provides investment for key policies such as our Modern Apprenticeship schemes and our Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme. The loss of this funding will have a significant impact on the ability of local authorities, community groups, funding bodies and enterprise and skills agencies to deliver the kinds of initiatives that will drive inclusive economic growth and promote wellbeing and cohesion in communities across Scotland.

The UK Government has indicated its intention to provide successor funding to EU Structural Funds through its proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund but there is little or no detail as yet on the scale, objectives or allocation of such funding.

Why your views matter

The Scottish Government is conducting a consultation to seek views on how best to develop our own thinking on how any replacement funding vehicle can best meet the needs of our citizens, our businesses and our communities.

Read the consultation paper. 

What happens next

The aim of the consultation is to ensure that stakeholders are empowered to provide their input, experience and expertise to development of any potential replacement for European Structural Funding and will serve to inform the Scottish position on the design and development of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund post EU withdrawal.