The UK's regions, especially the North East, Cornwall and West Wales, used to be major beneficiaries of EU structure funding. Since enlargement, more of the EU funding has shifted eastwards, but at £6bn it is still a considerable figure, the future of which is now in doubt. 

As EU funding has to be matched by co-funding from public or private sources, these regions could be hit by a double blow, namely the loss of EU grant and national grant. Many applications may now be withdrawn or never submitted.