Support measures in the context of Brexit

On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom withdrew from the EU, the EU Customs Union and the European internal market. Since then, Brexit has had a considerable impact on the business world Fortunately, several mechanisms have been put in place to financially support affected businesses.
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22 April 2022
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In 2021, export to the UK decreased by 2.59%. To prevent this decline from continuing, various measures were put in place. Below, we will elaborate on two support mechanisms aimed at partially cushioning the impact of Brexit on companies:

1. Brexit Adjustment Reserve

The Brexit Adjustment Reserve is an emergency fund for EU member states to support sectors, companies and local communities affected by Brexit. Belgium receives approximately € 305 million from this fund. These resources are mainly intended for companies that have to incur additional costs to continue serving their customers in the UK.

To be eligible for this subsidy, you need to prove that you already had a (trade) relationship with the UK before Brexit, and that you experienced a negative economic impact as a result of Brexit. The call specifically provides financial aid for projects that mitigate the negative effects of Brexit.

You may only submit costs resulting from Brexit and incurred in the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023. You have until 1 July 2023 to submit an application, unless the funds are exhausted before then.

Want to know more about this support mechanism? The Flemish Energy and Climate Agency (VEKA) and Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) will give an in-depth explanation during the Brexit Adjustment Reserve kick-off event on Thursday 5 May 2022 in Ostend. You can register for this event free of charge.

BREXIT  wegwijzerbordjes met achtergrond londen

2. Special Brexit Export Support

Special Brexit Export Support is a one-off grant of € 10,000 for Flemish SMEs with a Belgian company number that already have export experience and wish to relaunch their export activities in the context of Brexit. The grant is awarded by Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT).

To be eligible for this grant, you have to prove, among other things, that your company has positive equity and realised an export share of at least 20% in the last closed financial year, and that your project objective fits into the relaunch following Brexit.

Some examples of eligible costs include: customs systems costs, registration costs, cost of a customs representative, cost of advice from external consultants, shipping costs for samples, digital marketing costs, and cost of diversification to other export markets.

Want to apply for Special Export Support Brexit? The deadline for the current call is 13 May at 5 pm. Only applications that are complete and submitted in time will be considered. Additional information can be found on the Flanders Investment & Trade website (Dutch only).

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