Labour MEP Alfred Sant has told the European Parliament that UK withdrawal from the European Union without an agreement can dangerously leave its immediate budgetary relations with the EU with no legal arrangements.

Voting in favour of the Recommendation on the Council draft Regulation dealing with the short-term budgetary questions of the United Kingdom withdrawal from the European Union, Dr Sant explained that he did so because financial obligations already agreed upon under the current financial framework should be maintained.

Sant noted that EU funding beneficiaries involved in ongoing projects should have a guarantee of the money their work depends on.

“Uncertainty in relation with what the EU committed to finance would also be damaging to the Union’s image as a stable and secure source of funding”, Alfred Sant stated.

Sant added that the proposal to maintain the eligibility for EU funding for UK entities and UK related projects until this financial programme ends in 2020, conditioned by the UK’s commitment to contribute its share for the same period, is a fair proposal.

Concluding his explanation of vote, Sant said that it is imperative for the European Parliament to fully support the preparation of programmes that cushion against  instabilities that could arise as a result of the different possible scenarios under which the UK's withdrawal from the EU could occur.