Blair must not snuff out Wales' EU Funding - German

12.00.00am GMT Thu 1st Dec 2005

Tony Blair is jetting around Europe turning out the lights on Wales' Objective One programme, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German will claim today (Friday).

The next round of EU funding, which could be worth a further £1 billion to Wales, starts in 2007. Yet Tony Blair is arguing for major cuts in the EU budget, which would slash the value of aid to Wales' poorest communities. West Wales and the Valleys currently receives Objective One funding worth £1.3 billion, but this ends in 2006.

Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said:

"Tony Blair is jetting around Europe, desperate to do a budget deal during the UK presidency. To do that, he is ready to sell Wales short - sacrificing the European aid which is so vital to regenerating our poorest areas. He is not acting in Wales' interests.

"Areas such as Ceredigion, Swansea, the North West and the Valleys need to build on the work done so far. They cannot afford to lose a billion pounds worth of funding. We hear enough about Rhodri Morgan's clear red water, but on this issue he's allowed Blair to sell Wales down the river. Rhodri's unwillingness to speak up for Wales has been appalling.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats are the only mainstream party to have stood-up for Wales's interests on European funding.

"Building on a manifesto commitment of getting the best possible deal and supporting funding at a similar level to current investment, we won a victory at the UK Liberal Democrat conference for a fair European budget - fair funding for Britain most hard-pressed communities.

"We are the only party that is standing up for a strong Wales, a strong Britain and a working Europe."

Notes:

Mike German will be a panelist discussing 'Structrual Funds post 2006 and the impact on Wales' at a roadshow at County Hall, Cardiff tomorrow (Friday)

Close to EU: Europe in Wales, is A Local Government International Bureau Road Show, run in association with the Welsh Local Government Association and Cardiff Council.