Responding to the First Minister’s Statement on the EU Transition this week, North Wales Assembly Member and Shadow Secretary for Europe, Mark Isherwood, said a primary aim for the Welsh Government in a post-Brexit Wales must be to close the prosperity gap between Wales and other European nations, which has enabled Wales’ access to many EU funding streams over many years.
Speaking in the Chamber, he said:
“Clearly, ultimately, our aim must also be to close the prosperity gap between Wales and European countries. It is ironic that access for Wales to some of the EU funding streams, particularly structural funding, is consequent upon Wales’s prosperity gap with the EU and the rest of the UK actually widening since the receipt of funds. So, how will you seek to use both the negotiations and the reconfiguration of polices after the negotiations to maximise the opportunities to turn that widened GVA or prosperity gap into a narrowed gap that reaches the communities that, in large part, voted actually for a Brexit?”
“My party, the Welsh Conservatives, do believe that Wales must benefit from at least as much funding as we go forward and we’ll continue to make those representations in our discussions here and elsewhere.”
Mr Isherwood also spoke of the opportunity leaving the EU could provide for Welsh farmers.
He said: “At the Denbigh and Flint Show, the Farmers Union of Wales panel were unanimous in their decision that the decision to leave the EU should be seen as an opportunity to shape a future that suits Welsh farmers, not just those across the English channel. After the discussions, their managing director said ‘There’s no point in looking back, we must now focus on the future and recognise the excellent opportunity for us to shape our own future, one that suits Welsh agriculture and the people of Britain.’ They also said that, if we don’t change our policy in relation to the management of bovine TB in wildlife, our exports to the European Union in a post-Brexit world are under considerable threat. So, what discussions have you or your Government had, or will you have, with the FUW and NFU over approaching discussions on that positive basis and reflecting the real concerns and barriers they’ve identified?”