Theresa Griffin MEP urges minister to resolve North West EU funding delays

Theresa Griffin, Labour MEP for the North West

Theresa Griffin MEP today called on the government to act fast to resolve delays in the allocation of EU regional funding for the North West region, caused by concerns about Local Enterprise Partnerships' involvement in managing Operational Programmes.

Ms Griffin wrote to communities and local government secretary, Eric Pickles, urging him to work with the European Commission and secure the £895 million that the North West region is due from the EU, money which will be invested in existing and future projects.

North West MEP Theresa Griffin said: "We have written to Mr Pickles urging the government to act fast to prevent a delay. Until there is an agreement, there is a risk projects in Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool City Region and Cheshire and Warrington will see a gap in their funding.

"In the past there was a tried and tested system for managing these funds. The government decided to change that system so it needs to take responsibility for ironing out these problems to ensure money intended for the North West region is not delayed."

Theresa Griffin MEP added: "Labour MEPs' concerns about delays to these important funding programmes have already been raised with the European Commission.

"We need the government to show it is taking responsibility for the problems caused by its decision to reorganise the way money in the North West is used."