Welsh Liberal Democrats want Wales to stay in the EU because we are fighting for a stronger economy — thousands of Welsh jobs are linked to our trade with the EU Our manifesto for European Parliament elections 2014 Applicability: This manifesto contains Welsh Liberal Democrat policy. Contents Page 04 Introduction 00 06 Wales in Europe 01 08 Jobs: In Europe, in work 02 14 Crime and justice: Fighting cross-border crime, 03 defending your rights abroad 18 The environment: Protecting the environment 04 and creating green growth 24 The financial system: Building a stronger and 05 fairer economy 28 Consumer rights: A better, fairer deal 06 for consumers 32 Agriculture, rural development and fisheries: 07 A more sustainable future for rural communities and businesses 36 Europe and the world: Stronger together in a 08 changing world 40 European Union membership and reform: 09 Yes to European Union membership, yes to reform 44 Fairness and opportunity: Promoting people, 10 education and free movement 48 The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats 11 for Europe 50 Our Candidates 12 IN EUROPE IN WORK 3 Introduction The EU is vital for Wales’ prosperity, ensuring that neither law enforcement sustainability and security. Only the Welsh nor civil liberties stop at our borders. Liberal Democrats have the courage and Labour and the Tories are split over conviction to say so. Our message is loud Britain’s membership of the EU and have and clear: we are the party of IN. Do embroiled us in endless arguments about you want to vote for a party that will lead whether we should be in or out. UKIP us towards the exit, or do you want to want to take us completely out, while make sure Wales stays in, and becomes a Plaid Cymru’s goal of independence could stronger, richer and greener nation for it. also lead to Wales leaving the EU. Only As an EU member, Wales benefits the Welsh Liberal Democrats stand for an every year from £144 million more empowered Wales, in Britain, in Europe. than we pay in. Our businesses benefit The European Union isn’t perfect. It needs from access to 500 million customers. reform. But our membership is vital. West Wales and the Valleys have The Welsh Liberal Democrats believe in a received £1.8 billion in EU support. Wales that is stronger, safer and greener The Common Agricultural Policy is vital – because of our membership of the EU. for the future prosperity of our farming Through Liberal Democrat MEPs, we and rural communities. want to shape of future European reforms As an EU member, we can fight for a – to ensure they benefit Wales. We want greener future. Climate change and to see a Wales that is In Europe, and In pollution do not stop at borders, and Work. we need to work with other European countries to cut carbon emissions, promote green jobs and protect biodiversity. As an EU member, our law enforcement Kirsty Williams AM agencies can work with their counterparts Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats abroad to crack down on the criminals who cross our borders. Liberal Democrats are fighting for safer communities by IN EUROPE IN WORK 5 Wales in Europe Chapter 01 The Welsh Liberal Democrats’ vision is We benefit from access to a single for a strong Wales, in Europe, and in marketplace, with a level playing field, of Work. 500 million customers. Welsh companies export over £5 billion in goods annually The Conservatives and Labour to other EU member states. Without are hopelessly split over Britain’s equal access to the European market, membership of the European Union we would face economic uncertainly and and have embroiled us in endless potentially significant job losses: over arguments about whether we should 160,000 Welsh jobs are linked to our be in or out. UKIP want to take us continued membership of the EU and completely out, while Plaid Cymru’s could be put at risk - one in ten of the goal of independence could also lead to Welsh workforce. Wales leaving the EU. Both parties are content to threaten Welsh jobs to achieve EU membership also helps us to trade their separatist aims. Welsh Liberal with the rest of the world because the Democrats stand for an empowered powerful trading bloc is able to negotiate Wales, in Britain, in Europe. favourable trade agreements. Free trade agreements between the EU and Wales is a net beneficiary of EU countries such as South Korea – where membership, getting back more than UK exports have doubled since the £144 million each year more than 2011 agreement came into force – have we pay. You can see projects which massively increased Welsh export benefited from this funding wherever you potential. see the EU’s blue plaque, a common sight in many parts of Wales. The West Welsh consumers benefit from the Wales and the Valleys area has received common standards that EU laws require £1.8 billion, helping to create 32,000 from sellers in all of the 28 member jobs and supporting over 14,000 states and the consistency of laws from businesses. Anglesey to Cyprus, from Cardiff to Berlin. Travel across continental Europe In addition to this large-scale funding, we has been simplified and the rights of gain the broader benefits of membership. Welsh holidaymakers assured – thanks Nearly half of Wales’ trade is with to the EU. the rest of the European Union. 6 IN EUROPE IN WORK Agriculture is the backbone of the rural tools to combat criminal gangs, terrorists economy. Funding from CAP is vital for and paedophiles. Our citizens need EU the future prosperity of our farming and laws to uphold their rights across the rural communities, and the Welsh Liberal EU. Liberal Democrats are fighting for Democrats have called for more support safer communities by ensuring that for farm incomes through a dedicated law enforcement does not stop at Uplands scheme. Producing food in borders and nor should civil liberties. Wales is part of a global trade, which Thanks to our membership of the is why it remains essential that Wales European Union, we also have access has a strong voice in the world’s largest to one of the world’s biggest pots of economy. We must ensure the policies of research funding. EU funds provide 10% the EU reflect the needs of Welsh farmers of the UK’s entire science budget— and help make Welsh farms and nearly €5 billion in the last five years villages more resilient and sustainable alone. Welsh universities receive vital in the years ahead. funding from the €79 billion Horizon 2020 Liberal Democrats are fighting for a programme for research and innovation. greener future. Climate change and This funding means that scientists in pollution do not stop at borders and Cardiff University have been taking a Liberal Democrats believe it is crucial central role in understanding and imaging to work with other European countries our universe. This extraordinary research to fight climate change, cut carbon is happening right here in Wales, and it emissions, promote green jobs, and would not have been happening without protect biodiversity. These goals are the European Union. shared by most Welsh people and Liberal The Welsh Liberal Democrats believe Democrat MEPs champion them. in a Wales that is more prosperous, Crime doesn’t stop at borders. We more sustainable and more secure – welcome Wales’ cooperation with because of our membership of the EU. Europol and Eurojust, and the ability of Through Liberal Democrat MEPs, we our police to use the European Arrest are ambitious to influence the shape of warrant to bring criminals back to Britain future European reforms – to ensure they to face prosecution. Our police forces benefit Wales. We want to see a Wales need access to key EU crime-fighting that is In Europe, and In Work. IN EUROPE IN WORK 7 Chapter 02 Jobs In Europe, in work Thousands of Welsh jobs are linked to our trade with other European countries and being in the European Union gives us more strength to negotiate trade deals with global players like the US, China, India and Brazil, opening up huge opportunities to Welsh business. Global competition is quickening at a time when the UK and Europe have been weakened by a severe economic and social crisis. We want to respond to this challenge not by looking inward but by working with the rest of the European Union to create millions more jobs. We can do this by removing barriers to trade for Welsh companies, slashing red tape for small businesses, securing funding for innovation and competitiveness, and by using the EU’s collective strength to promote trade with the rest of the world. IN EUROPE IN WORK 9 What Liberal Democrats have start-up costs to £85, and establish a already achieved for jobs one-stop shop for business start-ups. • Liberal Democrats in the European • Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament have supported valuable Parliament supported funding that will free trade agreements with emerging invest £8 billion across all regions of the economies around the globe such as UK in tackling youth unemployment, South Korea. Since the South Korea re-training, investment in science and agreement alone, Welsh exports to that manufacturing, the tourism industry country have more than doubled to over and small businesses. The West Wales £75 million. and the Valleys area has recieved £1.8 billion, working to create 32,000 jobs • Liberal Democrats in the European and supporting over 14,000 businesses. Parliament helped secure an exemption for over 100,000 British businesses from • Liberal Democrats supported a complicated accounting rules, saving much-needed boost for British small businesses administrative infrastructure through a £17.5 costs of up to £390 million a year.