EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2019
MAKE WALES MATTER
www.partyof.wales MAKE
MAKE WALES MATTER A vote for Plaid Cymru in the European elections on W 23 May will be a vote for Wales to stay inside the European Union.
ALES Westminster does not work for Wales. This election is our opportunity to send a message to the UK establishment that it cannot ignore: we are appalled by its actions since the referendum, and we reject the UK parties' plans for a dangerous, damaging Brexit.
MA There is a simple way out of this Brexit mess, and that is to take our future into our own hands. Plaid Cymru is Wales' leading pro-European party, and a vote for us in this election is a vote for Wales as a proud, European nation. T While Westminster politicians are squabbling with TER each other, Wales is being left behind. It's time for change. Make Wales matter with a vote for Plaid Cymru.
EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2019 2 OUR FIVE KEY PLEDGES TO MAKE WALES MATTER
1 A Final Say Referendum – standing united in our ght for a Final Say referendum and for Wales to remain in the European Union, making the case for Wales to have its own voice in Europe as a member in our own right.
2 A Green New Deal – combating climate change by becoming 100% self-sufcient in renewable electricity by 2035 and rolling out a £3 billion home energy efciency programme.
A Transformative Economic Plan – leading the call for a ve- 3 year, £5 billion EU Transformation Fund for Wales to tackle social inequality, and to spread prosperity, investment and opportunity to every part of Wales; from our cities and towns, to our valleys and our rural and coastal communities.
4 Empowering Young People – ensuring continued access to the Erasmus+ education exchange programme, full implementation of the Youth Guarantee Scheme and access to the EU railcard.
5 A Welsh Migration System – creating a Welsh Migration Advisory Service to introduce a migration system that works for the needs of Wales. Our MEPs will lead the call for an EU migration policy based on solidarity.
www.partyof.wales MAKE WALES MATTER 3 MAKE
MAKE WALES MATTER
In this European election in Wales, Plaid Cymru is not process initiated by the 1993 Rio Conference. That W just the Party of Wales but the Party of Europe too. We culminated in the Paris Agreement in 2016, when 195 passionately want to Remain in order to transform countries adopted the rst ever, universal, legally Wales' future place and prospects inside the binding global climate deal. European Union. ALES But that was only the start. We must go much further. We want to stay in Europe so we can change it, not just That is why Plaid Cymru stands shoulder to shoulder for ourselves, but for the future of Europe itself. In with all those, young and old, that have been calling Wales we are the only party with the capacity for for both recognition of the global climate emergency winning seats that is unequivocally in favour of a but also new action in response in the form of a Green People's Vote. Labour's policy on a referendum – as New Deal. on so much else – is slippery, two-faced, unreliable. That is why, in the European Election, we are We oppose Brexit because it threatens European appealing to all progressive people to support us. MA collaboration, most importantly in tackling climate These European elections are a bridge across which change and protecting the natural environment. the people of Wales can venture to make the change that Wales needs. If you want a European future for The environmental crisis is multi-layered: it includes Wales, then vote for the only party that believes in it. collapse of biodiversity, pollution of our waterways
T and the oceans, erosion of the soil, and the impact of If we want the new Wales that a new politics will bring, population growth and consumerism. We need a we must vote for it.
TER radically different economic model. The challenge is huge, and it can only be met through international If Wales matters to you, then Make Wales Matter on collaboration and cooperation as well as May 23rd. decentralising power to the most local level possible.
That is central to Plaid Cymru's vision for Wales' future in Europe. We seek independence for our country. But we want that independence so we can make our own contribution to remaking our world, rst and foremost as part of the European family of nations.
The European Union has been a leading player in Adam Price nding a global response to climate change, in the Leader of Plaid Cymru
EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2019 4 PLAID CYMRU’S EXPERIENCED TEAM TO MAKE WALES MATTER
This election offers an unmissable opportunity to Our vision is of an outward looking and condent reject the Brexit mess caused by Theresa May and Wales. Our team will cooperate with other European Jeremy Corbyn, and instead to embrace Wales' future nations to develop a Transformation Fund, combat as a proud European nation. climate change and will prioritise policy developments that share prosperity fairly throughout Westminster is broken, and Wales deserves better. the EU and create opportunities for young people. Plaid Cymru's team of experienced and hardworking candidates will demand better. During this election, our team will be speaking with people all over the country about our mission to build a New Wales
MEET THE TEAM
JILL CARMEN PATRICK IOAN EVANS SMITH McGUINNESS BELLIN
Jill Evans MEP has been Plaid Cymru's MEP for Patrick McGuinness is a Professor of French and Wales since 1999. From the Rhondda, Jill is a former Comparative Literature at St Anne's College, Oxford. county councillor and a former chair and president of From an English and Belgian background, he has the party. In the current European Parliament, she is lived in Wales since 2000 and Gwynedd since 2006. Vice-president of the European Free Alliance Group. He is a celebrated academic, writer, and poet.
Carmen Smith is an experienced campaigner from Ioan Bellin is a former broadcaster for ITV Wales and Ynys Môn who works in international development. BBC Northern Ireland. He has worked in a number of She was twice elected as NUS Wales Deputy roles for Plaid Cymru over the last 15 years in the President, has been active in the People's Vote National Assembly for Wales. He has stood twice campaign, and has taken a leading role with the young before for the European Parliament and as a candidate people's movement For Our Future's Sake. in Pontypridd for Westminster and Welsh Parliam- entary elections.
www.partyof.wales MAKE WALES MATTER 5 PLAID’S SUCCESSES AT THE EUROPEAN MAKE PARLIAMENT
In the European Parliament, Plaid Cymru is a leading member of the European Free Alliance/ Greens political group. The group currently has 52 MEPs from 18 Member States. Jill Evans, our MEP since 1999 and lead candidate in this election, is Vice President of the European Free Alliance. Over the past ve years the group has:
• Advocated the adoption of 'clean energy for all' • Supported tighter controls against money W legislation, dening how the EU and member laundering. states will put the Paris Climate Agreement into practice and secured a commitment from the EU • Secured extra investment in cross-border train that one third of all energy will come from connections. ALES renewable sources by 2030. • Fought to protect individuals' right to privacy, • Against the opposition of big energy companies, providing better protection against online and succeeded in enshrining into law the right for ofine surveillance of citizens and consumers. citizens' consumption of renewable energy they produce themselves. • Built a coalition in the Parliament against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership • Achieved the phasing out of palm oil as a biofuel in negotiations between the USA and the EU that
MA transport. would have threatened the NHS, jobs, and food and environmental safety. • Introduced national building renovation strategies as well as Nearly Zero Energy Buildings as • Called for a more humane approach and greater standard for all buildings by 2050 in EU law. solidarity for refugees eeing to Europe.
T • Initiated a European Fund for Transition for regions • Led the campaign for equality for Europe's or economic sectors where people are losing their regional, minority and endangered languages,
TER jobs, to help sectors and regions develop leading to an overwhelming majority of MEPs sustainable jobs for the future. supporting Jill Evans' report on 'Language equality in the digital age'. • Been at the forefront of the ght against plastic pollution which led to the EU committing to • Campaigned for continued European citizenship reducing plastic waste and banning a whole range for the people of Wales in the event of leaving the of single-use plastic products. EU.
• Led on the reform of organic farming, food • Ensured that the next Erasmus+ programme will labelling, banning the routine use of antibiotics in be more inclusive, simpler to access, and as open animal feed, and introducing protection measures as possible to young people in Wales, even if we for bees. leave the EU.
EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2019 6 A FINAL SAY REFERENDUM
1Westminster is broken. Its establishment doesn't care and work anywhere in the EU and a wide range of about Wales, and it's leaving Wales behind. Only Plaid other rights under EU law regarding health, education, Cymru can secure a bright, European future for Wales. work and social security. Plaid Cymru are proud to be Welsh Europeans and have always set great store by our nation's European Remaining in the EU will also protect Wales from the heritage. profound economic impact of Brexit.
Remaining in the EU allows us to retain our identities In the wake of the 2016 referendum, Plaid Cymru as Welsh Europeans but also protects the many worked hard to understand the potential impacts of benets we receive as European citizens. Brexit and took the initiative to work with the Welsh Government to produce a common policy aimed at EU citizenship gives us the right to travel, live, study mitigating the worst effects of leaving the EU.
Our work recognised that:
• Two thirds of Welsh • Our success in attracting foreign • 200,000 Welsh jobs rely on exports go to EU investment is largely based on our trade with Europe countries access to the EU market of more being frictionless than 500 million customers
Consequently, Plaid Cymru called for: Cymru stated that this would still be worse than • Full and unrestricted access to the EU Single staying inside the EU. Even though we might be able Market for goods, services and capital – including to negotiate a position where Wales could remain in our key agricultural and food products. both, being outside the EU would mean we would • Wales to remain in the Customs Union to allow have no say over the future decisions about the way goods to be traded freely with more than 80 they develop. countries around the world. Indeed, since the referendum, industries and jobs The EU Single Market and Customs Union are both have suffered as a consequence of Brexit and the essential for our home-grown employers and for current climate of uncertainty. Remaining in the EU will attracting inward investment and job creation and this enable us to safeguard jobs and having easy access would be the minimum we need to protect Wales' to Europe will encourage important foreign economic interests. At the same time, we in Plaid companies to invest in Wales.
www.partyof.wales MAKE WALES MATTER 7 AGRICULTURE Brexit has serious implications for Welsh farmers. In Wales, an average of 80% of a farmer's income comes from the direct payments received through the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.
The Welsh Labour Government proposes to follow the UK Conservative Government by phasing out direct payments to farmers and establishing a new environmental land management system if we leave the EU. Meanwhile, farmers in MAKE Scotland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the EU 27 will retain TRADE DEALS direct payments, creating an unlevel playing eld for Welsh farmers and undermining the viability of their businesses. The idea that forging new trade deals once out of the EU would be easy was another of Meanwhile, if we were to leave the EU without a deal, 20,000 hill the unrealistic promises made during the farmers in our rural areas could face crippling tariffs on selling referendum. Plaid Cymru warned from the their lamb in their main market – the rest of the EU. very beginning that the British Government would nd it impossible to roll over the 40 It is vital that we protect the Welsh family farm through
W trade agreements from which it currently remaining in the EU – vital for our communities, culture and benets through its membership of the EU. environment. So far, the UK has only been able to reach nine out of 40 agreements. ALES In the twenty rst century, the UK is a MANUFACTURING medium-sized state that is nding it Uncertainty around Brexit is already impacting manufacturing. e x t r e m e l y d i f c u l t t o b u i l d t r a d e Almost 1,000 job losses have been announced at Ford in relationships outside the EU. We are seeing Bridgend and another 220 at Schaefer and 95 at Calsonic the collapse of the liberal post-war 'global' Kansei car components plants in Llanelli. economic order and the emergence of protectionist blocs, especially US and There has also been a serious decline in inward investment China. The reality is that Britain, with a since the 2016 referendum, with Wales bottom of the league
MA population of 67 million, would nd it very table. The average fall-off in incoming new projects across the difcult to compete with the US and its UK was 16.5%, but for Wales it was 46%. Nissan is abandoning population of 328 million, let alone China its plans to build one of its agship vehicles in Sunderland. The with its population of 1,420 million. As we electronics giants Sony and Panasonic are moving their have said all along, Wales' future is better headquarters from London to Amsterdam and Honda is placed in the EU, with its population of more closing a factory at Swindon, which will affect up to a dozen T than 500 million. major suppliers in the Welsh automotive industry
TER Since the Brexit referendum, investment-led growth has In the European Parliament, we will collapsed. Key Welsh companies such as FSG Tool & Die, continue to work for an EU trade policy that based in Llantrisant, are holding back on investment because puts our society, our environment and our of Brexit uncertainty. Meanwhile Airbus, an important Welsh people rst. Plaid Cymru is part of the employer which employs 6,000 people in Broughton and European fair-trade movement that aims to another 500 at Newport, has announced that Brexit will put human and social rights and the threaten future investment decisions and job prospects. environment ahead of the interests of big businesses. Outside the EU, Wales would Retaining our membership of the EU will encourage inward be much more vulnerable to harmful trade investment and boost investment-led growth. deals. All trade agreements must be compatible with the targets of the Paris Agreement through legally binding provisions. The evidence is clear - Brexit would be deeply damaging to Wales' communities. That is why we have campaigned from the outset for a Final Say referendum.
Our Final Say referendum will give the people of Wales an opportunity to choose between any deal and remaining in the EU. EUROPEAN ELECTION MANIFESTO 2019 8 A GREEN NEW DEAL
2Plaid Cymru understands that climate change is the We want Wales to play our part in leading the world in a dening challenge of our time. Climate crisis, just transition to sustainable societies and a Plaid destruction of nature and overuse of resources Cymru government will make this a priority. The rst threaten the foundations of our well-being and wealth step is securing the devolution of all responsibilities for – even our security. With declining biodiversity, our natural resources so that the power to act is in the polluted air and accelerating climate crisis, the time to hands of the people of Wales, through our act is now. This is not an issue that Wales can tackle democratically elected National Assembly. alone, that is why we must work with other actors within the EU and with other international institutions To complement our work in the European Parliament, to reach agreement and commit to bold action against a Plaid Cymru government will act through ensuring climate change and promoting decarbonisation. that we become self-sufcient in renewable electricity. We will do this through investing in the acquisition and Europe must lead the way on climate action, development of new large scale generating and implementing a Green New Deal to reach our climate storage capacity projects and providing support for goals. A key aim of the Green New Deal is to make the community energy initiatives. Plaid Cymru will transition to becoming 100% self-sufcient in commission a national inventory of green energy renewable electricity by 2035. Investing in renewable potential in Wales - an “Energy Atlas for Wales” - and energy gives us a historic opportunity to stop the seek to use European Investment Bank funding for destruction of our planet, improve our quality of life green and renewables projects. and boost the economy. Electricity bills in Wales are amongst the highest in the Our energy policy will be geared towards ensuring UK. Plaid Cymru wants to lift people out of fuel poverty that our resources are used sustainably, tackling with a £3bn home energy efciency programme and a pollution, developing jobs in the post-carbon national energy company, Ynni Cymru, to shift to economy and increasing our energy independence. decentralised and distributed networks and use prot from Welsh resources to cut the cost of energy for If climate action is to be effective, it must be enshrined Welsh consumers. Our MEPs will push for bolder in law. We will campaign for a European climate law, action in the EU on energy efciency, building on the with binding carbon budgets reducing emissions by at targets set out in the Energy Efciency Directive. least 55% by 2030 and building a net-zero emissions economy. We will seek a complete ban on fracking and new open-cast coal mines. The European Climate Action Determined action on the environment can improve Network scored parties on their the lives of millions of people. Thousands die every actions to tackle climate year from ne particles and other air pollutants. It is change in the European estimated that air pollution contributes to 2,000 deaths a year in Wales. To protect the air we breathe and the Parliament. They scored water we drink, we need to cut pollution rapidly. Plaid Cymru 96%, the highest score. The EU must also tackle the issue of plastic waste by banning non-recyclable plastics, developing sustainable alternatives and increasing recycling targets.
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MAKE WALES MATTER EUROPEAN EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE
4Years after the nancial crisis, young Europeans Access to high quality education and training at all continue to face challenges. Many feel anxious about levels and for all is crucial if we are to ensure that every the future, witnessing the inaction by status-quo citizen can reach their full potential. Plaid Cymru will politicians. strive to ensure continued access to educational and cultural exchange programmes, including Erasmus+ As a nation, we have a responsibility to build a country which has provided opportunities for links between of opportunity for future generations. Young people individuals, regions and countries, creating diverse should be at the forefront of shaping their futures and cultural and business opportunities. In 2016 alone, be empowered to be our leaders. 2235 students from Wales received Erasmus+ grants to study abroad, and Wales has received over £26 We will work with young people to build societies million for educational and cultural schemes from where they have full access to social protection and Erasmus in the last 4 years. Every young person rights, such as housing, education and political should have the opportunity to participate in an participation. We will promote policies to tackle youth exchange programme, regardless of nancial unemployment, brain drain and poverty. background or educational career.
We will call for young people to have access to an EU To enhance the benets made available to young railcard which will enable free travel throughout the people through our continued membership of the EU, EU, providing a culturally enriching experience. in Wales, a Plaid Cymru government will ensure we have the skills necessary to prosper. We will create a Plaid Cymru will push for full implementation of the new network of specialist National Colleges of Youth Guarantee Scheme, ensuring that all young Vocational Education, for 14+ and post-compulsory people in Wales under the age of 25 have access to education. education, training or employment opportunities. We will combat the enormous and debilitating brain drain that we face, as currently many of our brightest In the European Parliament, Plaid Cymru will promote students cross the border to study and stay in initiatives aimed at strengthening local and regional England. We will create an incentive for those students economies and creating stable, safe and sustainable who remain or return to live and work in Wales after jobs. The precarious situation of youth employment, graduating, helping to retain our brightest young including the proliferation of unpaid internships and people and strengthen our economy. Remaining temporary jobs, demands immediate action on the within the EU will benet our students and our protection of labour rights and decent income for all universities through access to crucial research ages. Jill Evans MEP was instrumental in the revision funding. In 2015/16 alone, Welsh Universities received of the Europass regulation – the European initiative for £25 million in research funding from the EU. documenting skills, qualications and professional experience – making it easier for young people from To ensure that we do not deprive an entire generation Wales to apply for jobs in other parts of the EU. of the reasonable expectation of having a decent home, we need to have substantially more affordable Jill was also a key player in the parliamentary report on housing and control rent prices. In government, we 'A new skills agenda for Europe', which advocates a will implement restrictions on rent increases within holistic approach to education and skills tenancies and supply more affordable housing development, focusing not only on skills that will help through a combination of bringing empty properties the economy, but also skills that will benet society as back into use, and new developments of mixed a whole. housing in the social and private sectors.
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MAKE WALES MATTER EUROPEAN FOOD, AGRICULTURE & FISHING Farming is the backbone of many rural communities local food with the highest environmental and animal across Wales and agriculture is an all-important sector welfare standards. We support a GMO-free Wales and in terms of the broader Welsh economy. Currently, an the continuing moratorium on GM crops in the EU. average of 80% of a farmer's income comes from the direct payments they receive through the EU's The Welsh sh and shellsh sector is worth £25 million Common Agricultural Policy. Direct payments provide to Wales and exports 90% of its produce, much of it to stability and security to farmers and are crucial in the EU. The vast majority catch shellsh, exporting ensuring the vitality of Welsh farms and the wider rural them live to the continent or further aeld via EU trade economy. deals. This makes Welsh capture sheries, aquaculture producers and seafood supply chains The Welsh Labour Government intend phasing out particularly vulnerable to any hold-ups in the direct payments if we leave the EU, which would have transporting of their produce because if they are held a devastating impact on the rural economy and the up in ports, they can deteriorate and lose value. Any fabric of rural communities. A Plaid Cymru tariff barriers or non-tariff barriers would have an government will retain a direct payment. We can also immense impact on viability. protect this funding and Welsh farmers by remaining in the EU. The frictionless trade which is a benet of EU membership is therefore crucial. Remaining in the EU The Welsh food and drink sector is integral to the will help protect the future of our hard-working shing prosperity and health of communities throughout families. In government, Plaid Cymru will also support Wales. The food supply chain is worth £6 billion to the the industry through developing a Small Harbours Welsh economy, and the food and drink industry Initiative to increase the long-term viability of the employs an estimated 240,000 people. We will seek to sheries sector. create a domestic food market which produces good, ANIMAL WELFARE Animal welfare is a crucial issue in the EU and Plaid creation of an Animal Abuse Register for Wales. Cymru will call for a European Commissioner to take particular responsibility for animal welfare issues. This Wildlife species in Wales are at risk of disappearing, would send out a powerful message that the EU takes with loss of biodiversity a threat to our natural this matter seriously. Plaid Cymru has consistently environment. We will update and consolidate Welsh called for a comprehensive European Animal Welfare wildlife legislation, creating a new Wildlife Act for Law. In Wales, Plaid Cymru will continue to call for the Wales.
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MAKE WALES MATTER EUROPEAN CRIME AND JUSTICE International co-operation to prevent crime and and girls who are overwhelmingly used for sexual ensure justice for victims of crime is crucial, exploitation, while male victims are trafcked for particularly fraud and human trafcking. We must labour. Plaid Cymru want to see increased resources maintain our ability to participate in the European allocated to investigations and the prosecution and arrest warrant, our Europol membership and our conviction of human trafckers. Plaid Cymru believe ability to participate in information sharing through that governments across Europe should increase remaining in the EU. They are designed to protect the steps to prevent this crime happening in the rst place, rights of defendants and the vulnerable across as well as pursuing breaches of the law when they are borders, facilitate mutual co-operation and support identied. practical processes for ghting cross-border crime and delivering justice. We support the European Convention on Human Rights that underpins our justice system. A Plaid As an EU member state, the UK is a full member of Cymru government will publish a human rights charter Europol, the pan-EU law enforcement agency which for Wales to defend Welsh people against the assists member states in their ght against serious backdrop of a Tory government intent on undermining international crime and terrorism. Europol is vital to the Human Rights Act. our national security as it offers unparalleled opportunities to prevent serious crime and to protect We also believe that the time is appropriate for policing our citizens. and criminal justice powers to be transferred to Wales, as they are in Scotland and Northern Ireland. As part of From stopping the smuggling of goods and people to this transfer of powers we will create a Welsh legal stopping outright acts of terrorism, retaining our full jurisdiction, creating a justice system that reects the membership of Europol through remaining in the EU needs of Wales. By devolving policing we will secure will help ensure the continued security of this country an extra £25 million for Welsh police forces, ensuring in a time of great uncertainty. It will ensure that we we can invest in crucial police services, rooted in our retain our access to all Europol's databases and be communities, focused on the priorities they need to able to share information on international criminals keep us safe. and terrorists effectively. We will take strong action to cut crime, focusing on Plaid Cymru is particularly concerned by continued community level interventions and we will reverse cuts human trafcking, and welcome that the EU has to legal aid so that everyone can have access to a recognised this as a priority. Reports suggest that 80% justice system that gives victims a fair hearing. of victims of human trafcking in Europe are women
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MAKE WALES MATTER EUROPEAN WALES AND THE WORLD Plaid Cymru will strive to make Wales the destination for labour and environment standards, and protection of choice for tourists and businesses across the world of the rights of cultural and language minorities. through closer economic and cultural ties with our traditional partners and allies Plaid Cymru recognises the importance of the tourism industry across Wales as an employer and in In government, Plaid Cymru will develop an attracting investment into the country. We have international policy for Wales that restores our position promoted Wales at every opportunity in the European as a great trading nation. We will introduce a Global Parliament with exhibitions and seminars and Jill Wales Agency, responsible for attracting new Evans MEP has facilitated the creation of a European businesses, talent and industry from around the world, cultural tourism network involving the smaller nations but also for putting Wales onto the global map for our in the EU. exports. We want to promote Wales as a top quality, We will also establish, as in Ireland, a separate sustainable tourism destination with activities and National Enterprise Agency, responsible for experiences based on our natural resources, our development inside Wales. A particular responsibility produce, our unique coastline and landscape and our for this new body will be to ensure equitable language, culture and heritage. Currently, the tourism investment and sustainable growth throughout Wales. industry is throttled by unfair taxes and a Government that is failing to promote Wales as a global tourist Plaid Cymru will continue to support strategic trade destination. Plaid Cymru want to see tourism VAT cut missions across the world to foster awareness of to put Wales ahead in the international tourism market Wales in new territories and take advantage of new and launch a Celebrate Wales year to stimulate opportunities that this provides to create jobs. We will tourism across the country. publish a set of trade negotiation principles, including CULTURE AND MEDIA As Member of the European Parliament's Culture and In Wales, we will maintain free entry to museums, Education Committee, Jill Evans MEP has used every create a National Digital Library for Wales and enable opportunity to promote and protect Welsh cultural National Museums Wales to create a dedicated interest in the EU, working closely with Welsh cultural National Art Gallery. organisations. We recognise that Wales has fewer bank holidays than Plaid Cymru will place art, culture and language almost any other nation in the EU. Plaid Cymru will together with sport – all vitally important parts of our make 1st March a national St David's Day bank holiday social tradition and way of life – at the heart of all our in Wales. policies, from local government nance, through to health and education and our European policies. Plaid Cymru is seeking the devolution of broadcasting Creativity, innovation and a sense of place will be so that we can create a level-playing eld with every critical to the success of any economy in the 21st other UK nation and give Wales the power to decide its century, and also carry a huge social dividend in own media and broadcasting policy. In government, wellbeing and community cohesion. we will create a real Welsh media that represents the people of Wales and what matters to them.
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MAKE WALES MATTER EUROPEAN HOUSING In Wales, our housing stock is outdated and inefcient. eviction whenever possible. Plaid Cymru believe in a Our MEPs will call for an EU fund for social, affordable housing rst model for tackling homelessness, and we and energy efcient housing. support the plan produced by Crisis for ending homelessness. We will adopt their recommendations A Plaid Cymru government will use this fund, as well as in government; ending priority need, abolishing prioritising other sources of investment, to build intentionality, and funding prevention work properly. 20,000 new homes in the social sector over a 5-year We propose that alternative sources of housing supply term of government, to contribute to local and be encouraged through an increase in the focus on affordable housing needs throughout Wales. bringing empty properties back into use, the building of Scandinavian style Social Care housing, and In Wales, which has an older and more traditional encouraging smaller eco-friendly developments and housing stock, housing refurbishments are important self-builds. in order to reduce families' fuel bills. That is why Plaid Cymru successfully lobbied for the right of EU We will strengthen the voice of local communities in governments to cut VAT on retro-tting houses. To the planning system so that new developments are secure quality housing for all, we will also roll out a sustainable and accompanied by investments in £3bn home energy efciency programme which will public services. We believe austerity is incompatible stimulate job creation, tackle fuel poverty and reduce with a desire for more housing and local democracy. carbon emissions. We will strengthen the rights of consumers who buy new-build houses, and change planning laws to Plaid Cymru will take effective action to end prevent the scandal of unnished estates, unadopted homelessness in Wales, using preventative measures roads, and lengthy delays between phases of to keep people in their homes and protect people from development
REFORMING THE EU We want to remain and reform from inside the EU, with All the nations and historic regions should be all the advantages of membership. We want to help represented in a second chamber of the parliament build a Europe in which all decisions are taken openly which would be the co-legislator and replace the and lobbying is properly controlled. We will work for current Committee of the Regions. human rights and justice at home and internationally - action best led by the EU on the world stage. Plaid Cymru want to see greater transparency in the Council and the democratic election of the European It is crucial that all of Europe's peoples are involved in Commission president by the European Parliament. EU decision-making. To ensure this, the EU must reform its participatory democracy. In particular, the European Parliament must have the power to initiate legislation.
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MAKE WALES MATTER EUROPEAN WALES AS AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER STATE Plaid Cymru believe that Wales should be a member Minister should have the right to attend all Council of state of the EU. This would make us a full voting Ministers meetings with observer status with speaking member with the right of veto where the European rights. Treaties allow so that the Welsh Government would have a voice at the top table. We also believe that the casting of the UK vote should require agreement by the relevant ministers from all We would have full access to and participation in the four administrations and that, where there is no EU as a member state to allow us to work for the Welsh agreement, this should be reported. national interest, rather than be represented by the UK Government which does not act in our best interests. The UK has one European Commissioner who is appointed by the UK Government. If Wales were to become independent members of the EU, then we would benet from electing more Plaid Cymru has proposed a 'rotating' commissioner Members of the European Parliament and our own from the UK, selected, in turn, by the different European Commissioner. Wales would elect 9 Governments within the UK for the ve-year mandate, European Parliament Members rather than the 4 that meaning Wales would get to select our own we currently have – more than doubling our commissioner when our turn comes around. representation. Under the present arrangements, Plaid Cymru believe Under the current system, Wales is represented at EU that the National Assembly for Wales, along with the level by four Members of the European Parliament, by other devolved administrations, should participate in two members of Ecosoc (the European Economic and the selection of the UK's European Commissioner and Social Committee) and by four members of the have the power of veto for unsuitable candidates and Committee of the Regions (2 full members, 2 alternate the power to nominate candidates for the process. members). The National Assembly for Wales should review Wales' Welsh ministers may be allowed to attend meetings as overseas representation, learning from best practice. part of the UK delegation, but are speaking on behalf The focus should be on providing a service which of the UK Government, not Wales. promotes the Welsh national interest, providing political representation from the Welsh Government Plaid Cymru believe that there should be automatic and National Assembly and a trade mission to Welsh representation in European Council decisions promote Wales. when they have an impact upon Wales. The First
www.partyof.wales MAKE WALES MATTER 21 22 2019 ELECTION MANIFESTO
MAKE WALES MATTER EUROPEAN www.partyof.wales MAKE WALES MATTER 23 Hyrwyddwyd a chyhoeddwyd gan / Promoted & Published by Gareth Clubb, ar ran/on behalf of Jill Evans, Carmen Smith, Patrick McGuinness & Ioan Bellin, all of Plaid Cymru The Party of Wales, Ty Gwynfor, Anson Court, Cardiff, CF10 4AL. Argraffwyd gan / Printed by Low Cost Printing, Pentrepoeth Road, Abertawe, SA6 6AA.