Senedd first sees European issues pushed to the top of the Assembly’s agenda

In a first for the National Assembly for Wales, Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM, and Chairs of the Assembly’s scrutiny committees have hosted an official meeting with Welsh MEPs to discuss Wales’ engagement with EU affairs.

Three MEPs, Jill Evans, Dr Kay Swinburne and Derek Vaughan, attended the session at the Assembly on 2 May.

The meeting was organised in recognition of the importance of Assembly Members and Wales’s representatives in Europe working effectively together for Wales, during an important period of negotiations in Brussels on key dossiers for Wales, such as structural funds, agriculture and fisheries reforms, and research and education programmes.

“We have changed the way we approach European issues in the Fourth Assembly by mainstreaming them across all Assembly Committees,” said Mrs Butler.

“We believe this fresh approach of integrating European and international issues into the work of all committees is greatly enhancing the effectiveness of our engagement on these important matters.

“Assembly Members are now able to cover a broader range of issues in depth in a way that would not have been possible through a specialist European Committee.

“This meeting is part of the process, ensuring that both Committee Chairs and Welsh MEPs are aware of all the issues they need to know about in order to serve the people of Wales.”