The leader of Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales in Europe, Jill Evans MEP, is stepping up her campaign calling on the European Parliament to set up a desperately needed information office in Wales.

She says a similar office was established in Scotland two years ago and is now playing a key role in promoting contacts between the Scottish and European Parliaments, as well as providing the people of Scotland with information about what the European Parliament and its members do and how it affects them.

Ms Evans’ renewed call comes after it was announced that new offices are to be opened in some of the countries which have applied to join the European Union.

She said,

"Whilst I warmly welcome the fact that the Parliament is raising its profile in countries applying to join the EU, I firmly believe that this further underlines the case for a similar presence in Wales.

"There is a desperate need for the National Assembly to establish strong and close links with the European institutions and this office would help to do that. With Europe playing an increasingly important part in our lives through EU Directives and particularly through funding programmes such as Objective 1, 2 and 3 information dissemination is more important than ever.

"My campaign has received the backing of a wide cross-section of key organisations and individuals. Following a meeting with EU officials eighteen months ago I was told that the situation would be kept under review. Now it seems Wales is slipping further down the pecking order and yet again we see Wales lagging behind Scotland in its relations with Europe.”

The all-Wales Euro MP has now written to Julian Priestley, Secretary-General of the European Parliament, asking that the case for establishing a presence in Wales be looked at again.

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