Contingency planning for Brexit is taking place across Government and is focused on preparing for a no-deal scenario, a status quo transition period, and the future EU-UK relationship. My Department is taking part in this contingency planning, which provides a baseline scenario for the policies and sectors impacted. This can then be adapted as appropriate in light of developments in the EU-UK negotiations.
The Government’s contingency planning is grounded in the extensive work already undertaken by individual Departments and agencies, as well as by stakeholder organisations, academics and others. Much of this is already in the public domain.
My Department has specific responsibility for the EU-funded cross-border programmes, PEACE and INTERREG. It has been working with the Special EU Programmes Body, the Managing Authority for these two North South programmes, on the implications of Brexit for the programmes. Research undertaken or commissioned by the SEUPB and the issue of publishing such research is a matter for discussion with the Northern Ireland Department of Finance, the joint Sponsor Department for the Body.
In parallel, my Department is continuing its own assessment of the implications of Brexit, including in the area of North South cooperation.
