Wales must get the best out of £504 million EU funding before the end of 2023

Published 02/06/2023   |   Last Updated 02/06/2023   |   Reading Time minutes

Chair of the Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee has responded to an Audit Wales report relating to £504 million of EU money which remains to be spent in Wales. This includes £446 million for the Structural Funds Programme and £58 million for the Rural Development Programme.

The report highlights the challenge facing the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) and the Welsh Government’s directorate for rural affairs in ensuring Wales gets the best value for money from the remaining funds before the end of 2023.

Chair of the Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, Mark Isherwood MS, says:

“The Committee acknowledge the complexity of the challenge facing the Welsh Government and the WEFO. Striking a balance between underspend and over expenditure is no mean feat, considering the many risks that are beyond their control.

“However, to ensure Wales gets the best out of the £504 million EU funding still available before the end of 2023, the Welsh Government and WEFO must retain appropriate staffing capacity to support ongoing checks and processing.

“Workforce pressures and planning is an issue the Committee has already explored with the Welsh Government, and we support the Auditor General’s comments relating to its particular importance in this case. 

“The Committee will consider the report in its next meeting and decide what further scrutiny is required in due course.”

The Auditor General’s report - Maximising EU Funding: the Structural Funds Programme and the Rural Development Programme - is available on the Audit Wales website.