(28 March 2017) – The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) has called on the EU and the UK government to ensure that the interests of regions are taken into account during the Brexit negotiations.
As the UK government prepares to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the CPMR is urging the EU institutions and the UK and to show understanding and awareness of the ‘territorial impact’ of Brexit during the negotiations.
Initial analysis from areas such as Brittany, Cornwall, Flanders, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the CPMR’s Atlantic Arc Commission, shows that Brexit will have a disproportionate impact on many regions, hitting some regions and sectors harder than others, particularly if the UK pursues a hard Brexit or if the negotiations break down.
Regional trade of goods and services with the UK will be affected. This will widely include the maritime economy and tourism sectors, and depending on the regions concerned it will have an impact on housing markets, health and social care, research and education.