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| Scotland 'faces EU funding cut', says SNP's Nicola Sturgeon | Scotland 'faces EU funding cut', says SNP's Nicola Sturgeon |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scotland is facing a disproportionate cut in European structural funds thought to be worth about a quarter-of-a-billion pounds, SNP ministers said. | Scotland is facing a disproportionate cut in European structural funds thought to be worth about a quarter-of-a-billion pounds, SNP ministers said. |
| Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the allocation could be cut by 30% from 2014-20, which was five times the reduction for the UK as a whole. | |
| Her comments came after a budget deal was struck by EU member states, following lengthy talks. | Her comments came after a budget deal was struck by EU member states, following lengthy talks. |
| It represented a 3.3% reduction from the previous seven-year budget. | |
| The Scottish government said the deal would cut the UK's allocation of structural funds by about 6%, amounting to 30% in Scotland, according to "initial" calculations. | |
| Scots ministers said a new formula for allocating funding was based on population density, meaning areas like the Highlands would be particularly badly hit. | |
| Structural funding is seen as vital for supporting projects to boost the region's economy, like green energy and other infrastructure schemes including road improvement. | |
| Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that Wales and Northern Ireland also faced cuts, while England's allocation was expected to rise. | Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that Wales and Northern Ireland also faced cuts, while England's allocation was expected to rise. |
| She said officials from the UK and devolved governments had agreed to work together to seek an alternative funding formula. | |
| Ms Sturgeon added: "Clearly, I am very concerned by what would be a disproportionate reduction in European structural funding for Scotland. | |
| "The prospects are good and I'm optimistic that we can get to a much better and fairer allocation, but there's work to do to get there." | |
| The budget deal still has to be agreed by the European Parliament. | The budget deal still has to be agreed by the European Parliament. |