The Brexit Adjustment Reserve
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From: Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
- Published on: 6 August 2024
- Last updated on: 27 March 2025
The European Union’s Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund, (BAR), provides support to counter the adverse economic, social, territorial and, environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.
The Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) entered into force on 11 October 2021. The fund was created to support all Member States but particularly those most affected by Brexit.
Ireland’s BAR allocation is now €802 million, and remains the largest allocation for any Member State.
Ireland received its share of BAR funding in the form of pre-financing - approximately €361.7m for 2021, €276.7m in 2022, and €163.7m in 2023.
The application for BAR funding must set out the negative impacts of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union and how the measures carried out under the Fund alleviate the adverse consequences.
Projects funded under the BAR include elements of the following:
- support to economic sectors , business and local communities, and organisations, including small-scale coastal fisheries, dependent on fishing activities in the UK waters;
- support for job creation and protection, including through short-time work schemes, re-skilling and training;
- ensuring the functioning of the border, customs, sanitary and phytosanitary and security controls, fisheries control, certification, and authorisation regimes
- measures for communication, information, and awareness-raising of citizens and businesses about changes to their rights and obligations stemming from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union.
The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the Union has resulted in specific risks and changes for the fisheries sector. The BAR regulation recognised this and dedicated an amount of a Member States allocation to mitigate these risks and consequences.
A significant portion of Ireland’s BAR allocation has been earmarked to support local and regional coastal communities, including the fisheries sector, in particular the small-scale coastal fisheries dependent on fishing activities in UK waters or waters where opportunities for Union fleets have been reduced as a result of Brexit.
https://bim.ie/brexit-hub/the-brexit-adjustment-reserve-fund/
Ireland’s BAR claim was submitted prior to the September 2024 deadline. Expenditure within the claim relating to the fisheries sector far exceeds the minimum requirement set out in the Regulation. The claim package is now undergoing a review by the European Commission alongside claims submitted by fellow Member States with a BAR allocation.
Useful links:
https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/legal/policies-guidelines/brexit-adjustment-reserve-bar