Wales’ Relationship with the EU

Following Brexit the prospects of the UK rejoining the EU in the medium term are remote. Nevertheless, we would make the case for the advantages for Wales and the UK as a whole, of closer regulatory alignment with the EU.

Plaid Cymru’s longer-term aspiration is for an independent Wales to join the European Union, subject to a future referendum after the achievement of independence. Meanwhile, a Plaid Cymru Government will pursue every avenue to deepen our relationship with the EU. We would:

• Establish a central unit as part of the Cabinet Office to deal with international affairs, and in particular to drive a strong and consistent policy for European engagement.
• Strengthen Wales’s presence in Brussels through Wales House.
• Cultivate a close partnership with Ireland, in particular by establishing a representative office in Dublin.
• Build on the recently announced International Learning Exchange Programme for Wales by seeking to align it with the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme.
• Develop existing partnerships with European nations and regions, such as Brittany, the Basque Country, and Flanders, and examine the scope for adding to their number.
• Sustain and develop Wales’s engagement with European networks such as those promoting the work of Well-being Economy Governments and Linguistic Diversity.

We would also explore the prospects for an independent Wales becoming a member of the European Free Trade Association, with a view to becoming part of the European Economic Area. The statutory National Commission we shall establish to oversee the process leading to an independence referendum will conduct an in-depth exploration of this option.