Background

In March 2018, the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee published its report (PDF, 9MB) on Wales’ future relationship with Europe. This part one report focused on the view from Wales on the key elements that should form part of a future relationship between Wales and the EU. The report was debated in Plenary on 23 May 2018.

Part Two

At its meeting on 21 May 2018, the Committee agreed to undertake a Part Two inquiry focusing on which networks, relationships and institutions should be prioritised, and crucially how these relationships can be sustained in future.

The terms of reference for the inquiry are to:

• assess the Welsh Government’s approach to external affairs and identify best practice example from elsewhere in the world;
• examine how the Welsh Government should prioritise its future external relations with key European and/or international institutions, regions and networks, including the support it provides to trade associations and civil society;
• explore how third countries and sub state nations and regions engage with the EU and EU institutions, and the grounds for cooperation, in order to identify potential models that could be adopted by Wales after Brexit; and
• explore the National Assembly for Wales’ own relationships with European networks and institutions and make recommendations on how these can be taken forward after Brexit.

Evidence gathering

The Committee held oral evidence sessions to inform its work on the following dates:

• 9 July 2018
• 16 July 2018
• 1 October 2018

At its meeting on 24 September 2018, the Committee agreed to incorporate the Wales in the World inquiry into this work. The final phase of the Wales in the World inquiry culminated in a rapporteur report (PDF, 165KB).

On Monday 22 October the Committee visited London to meet with a range of stakeholders to discuss Wales’ future relationship with Europe and the world. The Committee published its rapporteur summary (PDF, 129KB) from the visit on 18 February 2019.

Report

The Committee published its report: Wales’ future relationship with Europe and the World (PDF, 2MB) on Thursday 21 February 2019.

On publication of the report, David Rees AM, Chair of the Committee said:

“With our imminent departure from the EU, it is clear that Wales needs a new strategy for international engagement to take account of the major changes that lie ahead. We welcome the appointment of a Cabinet-level Minister with responsibilities for international relations, however, we are clear that the Minister has considerable work to do in defining a strategic approach to international engagement. This includes working out what Welsh priorities are, and working with other ministerial portfolios such as the economy, and education, to make it happen.”

Response to the report

The Welsh Government responded (PDF, 491KB) to the report on 24 April 2019. The report and response was debated in Plenary on Wednesday 1 May 2019. Watch the debate on Senedd.tv.

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

The Committee sends a regular Brexit Update email. If you'd like to receive this in your inbox, please email SeneddEAAL@assembly.wales to request this.