By
Rebecca Gibson |
Brussels has come out and said that Liverpool may have to pay back £9 million worth of European funding if it's successful with its controversial plans to gain lucrative cruise turnarounds.
In response to a question asked by Marta Andreasen, MEP for South East England, the European Commission said it would ensure that state aid rules, which restrict public money being used to support private industry, would be “fully respected” and warned that “a financial correction could not ruled out”.
Liverpool, which currently has a turnaround ban imposed on it because of public money used to pay for its £21 million cruise terminal, has offered to repay £5 million over 15 years.
The UK's Department for Transport is currently deciding whether to lift the ban, a decision which has caused outcry from a number of UK cruise ports, with a petition brought to Downing Street with 12,000 signatures calling on the Government to refuse the application.