Plaid Cymru Euro-MP and Deputy Leader Jill Evans MEP has asked for an explanation as to why Wales has been left off the map of Europe in a new EU reference book.

The all Wales MEP wants answers from Eurostat - the EU statistical office - to explain why Wales doesn't appear on the map of Europe on the cover of the latest edition of the Eurostat yearbook. Jill Evans is writing to Eurostat bosses in Luxembourg to find out how this happened and to make sure lessons are learnt so it doesn't happen again.

Jill Evans MEP said:

"I am writing to Eurostat to ask for an explanation about how this could have happened. Whilst this is most likely down to a mistake or an oversight, it is nonetheless more than a bit annoying.

"I'm sure that some people will find this quite amusing, but there is a serious side. Let's not forget that Eurostat does a very important job collating and analysing all sorts of data across Europe - this data forms the basis of preparing European law and deciding on developing funding programmes, for example.

"We work hard to put Wales on the map so this kind of thing is not what we want to happen. Personally, I can't help wondering that if Wales was a full member state in its own right then oversights like this would be much less likely."

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