The European Commission has lifted its moratorium on the payment of European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) within England, after ministers provided assurances over the future of national regeneration projects.

Commissioners in Brussels had temporarily interrupted ERDF payments to England, after an annual audit found a number of long-term irregularities, dating back to 2000. Administration of the ERDF had been the remit of the regional development agencies until their abolition, when it was brought back into the DCLG.