The External Affairs and Additional Legislation agreed to look at the future of regional policy in Wales.

Regional policy sets out to reduce regional disparities in economic performance. These policies are currently agreed at an EU level. In the current 7-year financial framework, £2 billion of EU funding is earmarked for this purpose in Wales.

As part of the inquiry the Committee considered:

• the status of existing programmes (including levels of commitment and questions around programme closure).
• the future of regional policy in Wales (in the context of the United Kingdom outside the European Union);
• best practice elsewhere in the world, including alternative models that are used to reduce regional disparities in economic performance.

Evidence gathering

The Committee took oral evidence as part of its inquiry on the following dates:

27 February (371 KB)

6 March (586 KB)

13 March (531 KB)

20 March (279 KB)

15 May (632 KB)

The Committee also received written evidence which can be viewed below.

Report

The Committee’s report on the future of regional policy was published in June 2017. Read the full report (PDF 1MB)

On the day the report was published, David Rees AM, Chair of the Committee, said:

“Carrying on as we are is not an option and everyone, from the Welsh Government, to the private sector, our universities and the third sector need to start thinking about fresh approaches to tackling some of the economic challenges we face as a nation.

“It is a call to arms for us all, that one that none should shy away from.”

Welsh Government response

The Welsh Government responded to the Committee’s report (PDF 315KB). A Plenary debate took place on 27 September.

Keeping in touch

If you'd like to know more about the work of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee, please view its homepage, follow its Twitter account or contact the team that supports the Committee at SeneddEAAL@assembly.wales

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