EU mulls using disaster funds in 'no deal' Brexit

Senior European officials are considering making an EU disaster contingency fund available to any member states hit by the economic fallout of an eventual "no deal" Brexit.

A proposal to reform the EU Solidarity Fund, set up in 2002 to support national and regional governments in the event of a major disaster, has been lodged with the European Commission.

A summary of the proposal on the commission website says the fund could "furnish member states with financial assistance to cover the heavy charges inflicted on them in the event the United Kingdom leaves without an accord."