Row of European Union flags

Scotland’s European Structural Funds – following the money

Reading Time: 7 minutesRecent media reports have suggested that some of the European structural funds allocated to Scotland during the 2014-2020 programme period may not ultimately be received by the Scottish Government because of a failure to spend the full value of the programme. This blog sets out the various figures available, including new data provided to SPICe by the Scottish Government.  For context, it also explains what Structural Funds are and why we are still talking about them given Scotland left the EU in 2020. 

Decorative.

After EU exit – UK border checks and the new common user charge

Reading Time: 6 minutesUK regulatory checks on EU imports are now underway following EU exit. Last week, the UK Government announced the charges that will be imposed on checks for commercial movements of animal products, plants and plant products through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.  The Common User Charge will be introduced on 30 April 2024. This blog sets out the background to border checks, the detail of the charges that will be imposed on imports and the reaction to these charges.

Defence and foreign policy in an independent Scotland – the Scottish Government’s proposals for Scotland’s place in the world

Reading Time: 8 minutesOn 4 March 2024, the Scottish Government published the latest policy paper in its Building a New Scotland series which in the Scottish Government’s words “together form a prospectus for an independent Scotland”. To inform a debate in the Scottish Parliament on 5 March 2024, this blog outlines some of the key issues covered in Scotland’s Place in the World

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