“A thin and disappointing deal that makes trade more difficult” – First Minister
“Cytundeb gwan a siomedig sy'n gwneud masnach yn anoddach” – Prif Weinidog Cymru
The “thin and disappointing deal” agreed by the Prime Minister will make trade with our most important European markets more expensive and more difficult after 31 December, First Minister Mark Drakeford said today [30 December].
Speaking as the Senedd is recalled to debate the “most important treaty” the UK will sign in 50 years; the First Minister said the impact of Brexit would be felt in the pockets of every person.
And he accused the UK Government of “cultural vandalism” by denying young people in Wales access to the Erasmus programme, which he said Wales has done so much to shape and foster.
First Minister, Mark Drakeford said:
“Businesses already know that the treaty will make trade with our largest and most important market more expensive and more difficult.
“The failure to include access to the Single Market for UK services, means businesses will have to rely on 27 different sets of national rules to trade across the EU, where they have one today.
“For our citizens, it means queues at airports; visas for longer visits; more expensive mobile phone calls and fewer people from the EU able to work in our health and social care system, looking after people in need of help.
“For our young people, it means the cultural vandalism of cutting them off from the Erasmus plus programme, which people from Wales have done so much to shape and foster. It also denies them a future in which they can freely live and work across the entire European continent.”
The Senedd will today [30 December] debate the trade deal agreed between the UK and EU and the UK Government’s Future Relationship Bill at the same time as it is debated in the Houses of Parliament.
Counsel General and Minister for European Transition, Jeremy Miles said:
“This is not the deal the Welsh Government called for or would have negotiated. But it is better than the catastrophe of a no-deal and gives us a platform on which better arrangements can be negotiated in the future.
“The Welsh Government will continue to work with all partners, businesses, communities and people across Wales to prepare for and help navigate the end of the transition period and the new relationship with the EU.”
Notes to editors
Debate: The End of the Transition Period
To propose that the Senedd:
- Notes the agreement in principle reached by the UK Government and the EU on our long-term future relationship at the end of the transition period.
- Notes the UK Government’s intention to implement the agreement via a European Union (Future Relationship) Bill.
- Regrets that it is not in a position to determine legislative consent, given that the Bill has been provided to the Senedd at very short notice and contains provisions capable of impacting on the devolution settlement.
- Regrets that this damaging deal does not reflect the aspirations of the Senedd as reflected in ‘Securing Wales' Future’ and ‘The Future EU Relationship: Priorities for Wales’ but nevertheless, accepts that this deal is less damaging than leaving the transition period without a trade deal.
- Supports the continued efforts to mitigate the short-term disruption and the long-term harm which will result from the change in our economic relationship with the EU and calls on the UK Government to work with the Welsh Government to that end.
The future UK/EU relationship: negotiating priorities for Wales