Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales in the European Parliament has called for the Convention on the future of the EU that meets for the first time today to ensure a stronger role for stateless nations and regions which will encourage EU citizens to participate in the future of the Union.

Plaid Cymru leader in the European Parliament, Jill Evans MEP, said:

"The voices of the stateless nations and regions are important to the future of Europe as their parliaments and assemblies represent the closest link to the citizens of the EU.

"The UK government may be content for Wales to stand at the sidelines of Europe - but Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales is not. We will have to ensure that Welsh interests will be represented in the talks that will decide how our National Assembly and local authorities will contribute to the governance of Europe in years to come.”

Eurig Wyn MEP added:

"All parliaments and assemblies must be fully involved in the debate over the future of Europe. More and more European legislation has an impact on the work of the National Assembly and Wales should be in a position to have a more direct dialogue with Europe.

"The Convention is the first step to develop a future structure for an enlarged Union. This must not result in a system that protects the interests of the large member states at the expense of the smaller nations and regions."

Note for Editors

Following the Laken European Summit in December 2001 a Convention was established to discuss the future of the European Union. It will be a crucial forum in the process of developing the Union’s governance structures leading up to the 2004 Intergovernmental Conference, including discussions on how powers are divided between different levels of government.

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