Contents

1.         Introduction.. 4

2.        International 5

Key developments. 5

Other updates. 6

3.        Europe. 9

Key developments. 9

Other updates. 10

Welsh Government Visits: October – December 2023.. 11

 

1.            Introduction

The Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee has a broad remit covering a wide range of areas. In March 2022, the Committee noted its intention to conduct regular monitoring of international activity undertaken by Welsh Ministers as part of its strategy and priorities for the Sixth Senedd.

This monitoring report is intended to provide Members of the Committee with an update on key policy developments related to the Committee’s international relations remit. This includes relevant statements made by the Welsh and UK Governments, as well as public bodies, delivery partners and stakeholders. Relevant publications from Senedd Research will also be included in the report.

The report covers the period September 2023 – December 2023.

2.         International

This section summarises key developments covered by the Welsh Government’s International Strategy and  other relevant updates.

Key developments

In November 2023, the Scottish Government published its position paper on the scope and guiding principles of its feminist approach to international relations. It said:

The Welsh Government outlined activities which took place around the Rugby World Cup during September and October, as part of Wales in France 2023. Ministerial visits included the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Minister for Finance and Local Government, and the First Minister.

The First Minister has confirmed that 2024 will be the year of Wales in India, with a focus on, “…developing trade and investment links, soft power and NHS health links”.

During an update on Nation of Sanctuary on 19 September 2023, the Minister for Social Justice said the Welsh Government would consult on the plan in December 2023, before publishing the refreshed plan in 2024. In response to an oral question on 13 December 2023, the Minister said:

The Minister also attended the Safety, Security and Migration Interministerial Group, noting that she:

She emphasised the Welsh Government’s commitment to being a Nation of Sanctuary.

The UK Government confirmed its intention to ratify the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, launching a consultation seeking the public’s views on how to implement the Convention across the UK. This action will enable communities in Wales to nominate traditions such as the Mari Lwyd and St David’s Day celebrations for inclusion in a new register of UK cultural heritage. The UK Government said it has and will continue to work with the devolved governments to implement the convention and collate the register, which is expected to open for nominations next year.

Following a meeting between Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, and President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, issued a letter which said the meeting breached protocols on Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) support to devolved government ministers' overseas visits. This was due to no UK official being present at the meeting. Lord Cameron said FCDO support would be withdrawn if subsequent breaches occur.

The Counsel General issued a statement on his attendance at the fifth meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee (IMSC) on 19 October 2023. As part of the discussion relating to international issues and the International Development White Paper, the Counsel General pressed for further consideration be given to an Inter-Ministerial Group for international relations. The IMSC agreed to consider how to ensure international matters are appropriately considered in the Intergovernmental Relations system, including through ministerial level engagement. It said it would return to the issue.

Other updates

Month	Source	Details
December	Welsh Government	The First Minister confirmed that Welsh Government will send three officials to COP 28.
	Global Wales	Global Wales visited Vietnam as part of the Going Global partnership project. The focus was gender equality as part of the Vietnamese Higher Education system reform.
	Welsh Government (Wales in North America)	The Wales in North America team launched its annual embassy adoption programme, alongside the Scottish Government.
	Welsh Government (International)	The Welsh Government’s Head of Middle East and North Africa attended UN Action for Climate Empowerment’s breakfast to discuss Wales’s Future Generations Act.
October	Welsh Government	The Welsh Government issued a written statement on Taith, highlighting that 11,000 people had participated in the programme.
	Written Question WQ89306 (e)	Sam Rowlands: Will the First Minister provide a list of visits by Welsh Government Ministers to Welsh Government international offices since the start of this Senedd term? §  Tabled: 12 October §  Answer due: 19 October §  Not yet answered
	Welsh Government	The Consular Association of Wales met with the Welsh Government to discuss areas of common interest and cooperation.
	Welsh Government (Wales in North America)	Wales in North America attended Earthshot Innovation Summit, alongside the Future Generations Commissioner, Derek Walker, to promote Wales as a globally responsible nation.
	Welsh Government (Wales in North America)	Wales in North America met with the First Minister to discuss the work of the team.
	Welsh Government	The First Minister met with the following ambassadors: §  US Ambassador §  Thai Ambassador §  Italian Ambassador. §  Argentine Ambassador

 

 

3.         Europe

This section summarises the latest news relating to Europe, and lists important updates.

Key developments

The Welsh Government published its EU Funds: Ireland-Wales Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 annual implementation report 2022.

The report stated that, by the end of 2022, the programme had fully committed investment in 24 cross-border projects. It includes case studies relating to the CHERISH and CUPHAT projects, who gave evidence to the Committee’s Wales-Ireland Relations inquiry.

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee visited Brussels as part of its UK-EU Governance inquiry. The inquiry focused on the role of devolved governments and legislatures in UK-EU relations. Its report made a number of recommendations, including echoing this Committee’s call for the Welsh Government to set out its strategic priorities in a dedicated EU strategy, or in a refreshed International Strategy.

Other updates

Month	Source	Details
December	Welsh Government (Wales in Europe)	Wales in Europe met with the Gibraltar Government representative.
November	Welsh Government (Wales in Europe)	Wales in Europe met with the Deputy General Representative from the Delegation of Flanders.
September	Welsh Government (Wales in Europe)	The Deputy Minister for Social Partnership met with MEPs in Brussels to promote the Social Partnership Act.
	UK Government	The UK Government issued a joint statement on the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee meeting, 28 September 2023
	UK Government	The UK Government issued a statement after the fourth meeting of the Separation Agreement Joint Committee between the UK and EEA EFTA states.

Welsh Government Ministerial Outward/Inward Visits: October – December 2023