Cash-strapped holiday islands beg Brussels for cash to soften Brexit blow

CASH-STRAPPED parts of Europe are now begging Brussels for a fund to cushion the Brexit blow.

The EU’s vulnerable areas issued an SOS to Eurocrats that shows why the bloc needs a good trade deal with Britain.

Regions pleading for assistance include Andalusia in Spain, Cyprus and the Portuguese island of Madeira, all favourites with British tourists.

Officials told of “negative consequences” if a wide-ranging agreement is not sealed with the UK.

And they are calling for a cash pot to help prop up the parts of the continent worst affected.

Such a fund may need hundreds of millions of pounds at a time when the bloc faces a £9billion budget black hole a.

Member states are deeply divided between those who want to slash spending to compensate for Brexit and others who believe taxpayers should stump up more.

Tory MEPs chief Ashley Fox told The Sun: "This clearly illustrates a comprehensive, all-embracing trade agreement makes just as much sense for the EU27 as it does for the UK."

He went on: "Understandably the EU is anxious to protect the integrity of the single market but in doing so it must avoid any temptation to erect artificial barriers simply to make an example of Britain as a departing member.
“It should swallow hard and put people above politics in the forthcoming negotiations.”

EU leaders will discuss the emergency fund as part of negotiations for the club’s next seven-year spending plan, which will be its first without British cash.