Meetings
International Strategy
This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.
Note: Meeting Agenda can change at short notice. Particularly where future meeting dates are indicated more than a week in advance. Please check before planning to attend a Committee Meeting that the item you are interested in has not been moved.
Meeting: 07/11/2022 - Senedd Commission (Item 4)
Framework for International Engagement
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 2
- Restricted enclosure 3
Minutes:
Commissioners welcomed an updated framework
for the delivery of Commission support for international parliamentary activity
in the Sixth Senedd. It would enable the Commission to demonstrate how it is
working towards the achievement of identified outcomes, showcasing the
strengths of the Senedd and Commission and linking directly to policy, procedural
and corporate interests.
Commissioners discussed international activity as part of a Member’s role and recognised Members need to be aware of Determination provisions in addition to the Commission support provided for various activities. They agreed the Framework, which would be made public on the Senedd website.
Meeting: 15/03/2021 - Senedd Commission (Item 9)
Review of Framework for International Engagement
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 6
Minutes:
Commissioners noted information about the international work undertaken by the Senedd for the period of January 2019-March 2021.
Meeting: 28/01/2019 - Senedd Commission (Item 8)
International engagement - progress report
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 9
Minutes:
Commissioners noted an update to deliver work set out in the Framework for the Assembly’s International Engagement during the Fifth Assembly. They raised the potential to work more closely with Honorary Counsels.
Meeting: 20/07/2017 - Management Board (Item 4)
International Work Programme
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 12
Minutes:
Manon welcomed Al Davies
to the meeting to present the work programme for 2017-2020. It was intended to
complement the Framework for the Assembly’s International Engaging during the
Fifth Assembly, which had been presented to the Commission on 15 May, and was
designed to reflect the Assembly as a small but progressive and innovative
international legislature that was open and outward looking. The proposed work
programme was sufficiently flexible to accommodate additional engagement and
activity as necessary, with consideration having been given to the impact of
Brexit and alternative links.
Value for money was always
considered in the forward planning and, although it was a high level draft at
this stage and not budgeted in detail, it would be delivered within the current
engagement budget.
Management Board was
invited to discuss and suggest amendments or additions to the work programme.
The Board agreed that the
work programme presented good value for money, recommending that current staff
that speak other languages could be used to support the international team.
Meeting: 15/05/2017 - Senedd Commission (Item 5)
Framework for the Assembly's International engagement during the Fifth Assembly
Supporting documents:
- Restricted enclosure 15
Minutes:
Commissioners discussed a paper that set out a draft framework for developing a coordinated and meaningful international work programme, for the Fifth Assembly.
They were supportive of the intentions of the framework, to position the Assembly on the international stage as a small but distinct, innovative and progressive legislature, and agreed that the Commission’s international engagement should be supported through a clear purpose. In particular they flagged the importance of being outwards looking, sharing what we do, and identifying other areas where there might be a role we could develop for further opportunities.
A delivery plan will be worked up, taking account of the Commission’s views.
Meeting: 26/01/2017 - Senedd Commission (Item 3)
EU update
Minutes:
Following the departure of
the Commission’s previous EU Advisor, Commissioners were told of the new
arrangements that had been put in place, taking account of the changed
landscape following the EU referendum.
The
new postholder will be based in Cardiff and travel frequently to Brussels to
continue to network and represent the Assembly’s interests and facilitate
Member and committee visits.
Meeting: 04/12/2014 - Senedd Commission (Item 2)
EU Office and Assembly engagement on EU affairs
paper 2
Minutes:
Gregg
Jones provided Commissioners with an update on the EU-related activities of the
Assembly and the work of the EU Office in supporting and co-ordinating this
work.
Commissioners
held a broad ranging discussion and acknowledged the benefits of working in
Europe, in particular working with other regions in Europe and getting the
voice of Wales and the Assembly heard. They also recognised the value and
benefits of having an EU Office in Brussels.
Commissioners
felt that some Members may not have a particularly extensive knowledge of the
work done by the Assembly in Europe, and suggested that consideration be given
to looking at how the Assembly’s EU work is communicated to Members to help
address this. They welcomed plans from the EU Office to launch a new monthly
update – the Brussels Report – aimed at all committees. Its purpose will be to
draw to committees’ attention to key strategic developments at EU level
relevant to Wales; and to provide a ‘tracker’ of important legislative dossiers
in the system (or about to be proposed).
Looking
ahead to the remaining 18 months of the Fourth Assembly, and beyond, the
Commission sought to maintain and build on the high quality of engagement to
date by the Assembly on EU affairs.
Commissioners
agreed to visit Brussels, with a view to meeting with the Welsh MEPs and other
key players in the EU Institutions. They also supported secondments/training
opportunities to the EU Office and agreed to explore opportunities for the
secondment of Assembly staff to the EU Institutions – in particular the
European Parliament and European Commission.
Commissioners
saw a real advantage in having a separate committee to look at European issues,
but recognised the pressures on Members and their time. They also acknowledged
that the current model of integrating European work into the responsibilities
of the other committees has been effective. They agreed to address the pros and
cons of the approaches in their legacy report.
The
Commission was also supportive of the idea of exploring potential benefits to
the Assembly of participating in EU funding programmes, for example the
Erasmus+ Programme which includes support for structured dialogues between
citizens, youth democracy projects, mobility actions and other forms of active
citizen engagement.