Plaid Cymru Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM and Plaid Cymru MEP and Deputy President Jill Evans will tomorrow (Saturday) meet representatives of other European governments to discuss constitutional changes and also the role of cultural and linguistic policy in Nation Building. They will attend the EFA Summit in Edinburgh alongside Scottish counterparts and ministers from the Catalan, Basque, Flemish and Galician governments.
The ministers are expected to make a joint declaration of cultural and linguistic cooperation between the six governments.
Plaid MEP Jill Evans will be taking part in the debate on the constitutional changes taking place in Wales, Scotland, Flanders, the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia. She said:
"This historic event is symbolic of the advances made by Plaid and our sister parties in other parts of Europe. The Edinburgh meeting will bring together six government ministers from other countries and is a sign of the progress being made in achieving our shared long term aim of independence within the European Union."
"MPs in Westminster will soon be debating and voting on the European Reform Treaty, as will parliaments across Europe. But in Edinburgh this weekend, we will be talking about the reality of Europe and the changes already taking place. At least three of our countries are in the process of major consultations which will lead to referenda on constitutional changes.
"The All Wales Convention marks the next step in the political development of Wales and we will be encouraging individuals, community groups and civil society to have their say on Wales's future. These are exciting and historic times when our parties and our nations are working together to create the new Europe."
Notes
The Edinburgh Ministerial meeting takes place at 'Our Dynamic Earth' centre, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh this Saturday morning 19 January 2008 from 0945 and there will be a press conference and photo op at 13h00.
The meeting will be chaired by SNP Culture Minister Linda Fabiani, and is organised by the European Free Alliance (EFA). Plaid Cymru is a long standing member of EFA, an organisation that draws together democratic political parties across Europe committed to achieving greater representation for their stateless nations and regions.
The following ministers will attend the summit:
* Linda Fabiani (Scottish Minister for External affairs, Europe and Culture)
* Joan Manel Tresserras (Catalan Minister of Culture)
* Tontxu Campos (Basque Minister of Education)
* Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Welsh Minister of Heritage)
* Bert Anciaux (Flemish Minister for Youth, Culture, Sports and heritage)
* Ànxela Bugallo (Galician minister of Culture and sport)
The Chair of the discussion on cultural and linguistic policy is Bernat Joan i Mari, from Catalonia.
Taking part in the constitutional debate are:
Josep Lluis Carod Rovira (President of ERC), Unai Ziarreta (President of EA), Jill Evans MEP (Deputy President of Plaid Cymru), Ian Hudghton (President of SNP), Bettina Geysen (President of Spirit), Anxo Quintana (President of BNG)
