Welsh Liberal Democrat European spokesperson, Mike German, has expressed his deep frustration at the £77 million being sent back to Europe because of Labour-Plaid incompetence and lack of vision.
As a result of questions from Mike German during the scrutiny of the First Minister and officials in the European Committee, it was revealed that Wales will send back 5% of the Structural Funds given to Wales over the 2000-2006 round of funding.
Further questioning revealed that around £46.2 million of European money had been allocated to various projects however due to the lack of Assembly government strategic planning some projects have not been able to spend all the European money. A worrying 2% of European funding, which totals nearly £31 million was not allocated to any projects in Wales.
Mike German who served as Minister for Economic Development in the 2000-2003 Partnership Government said:
“In these difficult economic times when businesses are going under, it is near incomprehensible that the Labour-Plaid government is going to send £77 million back to Europe. This money is offered by the European Union to accelerate economic development in some of the poorest regions of Wales. The Labour-Plaid government owes it to the people of Wales to put this money to work.
“The Assembly government has talked a lot over the last four years about having a more strategic approach to European funding, but there’s nothing strategic about sending the money back, while West Wales and the Valleys continue to be less prosperous than the rest of Europe.
“The simple reason why this money has not been allocated is due to a lack of ambition and strategic planning on behalf of the Labour-Plaid government.
“Nearly £46 million will be sent back to Europe due to lack of the Labour-Plaid government’s strategic planning as some projects have not been able to spend the money. A key reason for this is that the Assembly government has allocated a smaller amount of mach funding this year and the next than previous years. Match funding is a key issue for project managers, without it, European money cannot be spent.
“Sending the money back will be a damning indictment of this One Wales government.”
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