Preparedness in Wales for the end of the transition period

Background

Following the UK’s exit from the European Union on 31 December 2019, the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee (“the Committee”) agreed to explore preparations in Wales for the end of the transition period, through scrutiny of the Welsh Government, engaging with stakeholders, and highlighting Wales-specific issues.

This work encompassed the following areas:

-       Welsh Government action to prepare Wales for the end of the transition period;

-       Preparedness of key economic sectors in Wales;

-       Implications for preparedness arising from the negotiation of UK international agreements, including the UK-EU future relationship agreement (or agreements), other significant free trade agreements (e.g. UK-USA, UK-Japan, UK-Australia, UK-New Zealand etc.), and the trade agreement continuity programme; and

-       Intra-UK intergovernmental agreements relating to the end of the transition period, including the common frameworks programme.

Consultation

Exiting the European Union: Preparedness in Wales for the end of the transition period

Welsh Government action to prepare Wales for the end of the transition period

Background

In order to hold the Welsh Government to account for its preparations for the end of the transition period, the Committee held regular scrutiny sessions with the First Minister, the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition, and the Minister for International Relations.

Evidence gathering

In August 2020 the Committee launched a survey into preparedness for the end of the transition period. The results (PDF, 127KB) of the survey informed the Committee’s work in this area.

A video summarising the findings of the survey can be viewed below.

YouTube-Here https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z4d01OKB5tY

Preparedness of key economic sectors in Wales

Background

This work built on the Committee’s follow-up work on Brexit preparedness, which was completed in January 2020.

International agreements and trade

Background

This work looked at the implications for preparedness arising from the negotiation of UK international agreements, including the UK-EU future relationship agreement (or agreements), other significant free trade agreements (e.g. UK-USA, UK-Japan, UK-Australia, UK-New Zealand), and the trade agreement continuity programme.

It built on the Committee’s previous work, including the following reports:

-        The Withdrawal Agreement: Implications for Wales (January 2020) (January 2020);

-        Wales’ future relationship with Europe and the world (February 2019);

-        Wales’ future relationship with Europe – Part one: a view from Wales (March 2018);

-        Implications for Wales of leaving the European Union (January 2017).

Evidence gathering

At its meeting on 20 May 2020, Professor Catherine Barnard provided evidence to the Committee on possible future options for the UK-EU relationship. These were outlined in her paper Future scenarios post Brexit  (20 April 2020) (PDF, 425KB), in which she set out the possible future options for the UK-EU relationship, including a future trade agreement, no future trade agreement (the trading on WTO terms), the conclusion of a series of UK-EU “mini deals” and the possibility of extending the transition period beyond 31 December 2020.

Intra-UK intergovernmental agreements

Background

This work focussed on inter-Governmental relations, building on the Committee’s previous work in the following areas:

-       Proposals for a UK Shared Prosperity Fund

-       Common policy frameworks programme

-       UK Internal Market Bill 2020