North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to respond to concerns that potential INTERREG projects have not received the support and engagement in North Wales that they have in other parts of Wales.
The INTERREG Ireland-Wales 2014-20 programme encourages regions to work together to address common economic, environmental and social challenges.
During yesterday’s Business Statement in the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood, relayed the concerns raised with him regarding the lack of support for potential INTERREG projects in North Wales.
He said:
“In Wales, the two INTERREG regions are North Wales, with a population of just over 696,000, and West Wales, with 630,000 - so, not dissimilar populations.
“But I've been given a Freedom of Information response from the Welsh European Funding Office, which says that there were 62 projects submitted but only 19 of these involved a North Wales partner, and only 12 were led by an organisation based in Wales. And, of 18 projects approved, only five included a North Wales partner - and only two were led by a North Wales partner.
“So, only 28 per cent of projects approved included a partner in North Wales; only 11 per cent led by a North Wales partner.
“I call for a Statement to reflect concern raised with me that potential INTERREG projects have not necessarily received the support and engagement in North Wales that they have elsewhere, because I know that demand in North Wales, potentially, should be equal at least to that in West Wales.”
The Finance Minister and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans AM, told Mr Isherwood to write to her detailing the concerns and so that she can “perhaps then advise on work that has been done to support and promote projects in the North Wales region”.
