This is Carmarthen where today a Plaid Cymru Special Conference voted in favour of a
motion that reiterates the party's commitment to securing independence for
Wales in Europe:
Special Conference Motion
On June 23rd the people of Wales voted by a
narrow margin in favour of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. Plaid Cymru campaigned for a different
outcome but respects the result as the expression of the democratic will of the
Welsh people. We also recognise that the
people of Scotland voted in favour of remaining in the European Union and
support the right of the Scottish people to chart their own future, including,
if necessary, through a new independence referendum.
It is essential now that the national movement seeks to
defend the interests of all people in Wales, regardless of how they voted, in
this changing political landscape.
11. Protecting Wales’s Interests
1.1. The
immediate task is to ensure that the interests of Wales are fully considered in
the long and complicated process of leaving the EU.
1.2. Plaid
Cymru believes that the Article 50 TEU process should be triggered only when a
clear strategy has been developed for exit, including the identification of
which parts of EU law we wish to retain in Wales.
1.3. Plaid
Cymru will:
1.3.1.
Demand that the Welsh Government is fully
involved in the UK negotiations at every stage.
We call on the government in Wales to establish a team of expert
negotiators.
1.3.2.
Call on the Welsh Government to establish a team
of advisors who can give specialist information to the newly established
Assembly Committee on External Affairs and Additional Negotiations and to the
negotiators.
1.3.3.
Call on the UK to adopt a new and expanded
regional policy with a needs-based formula to compensate in full for the loss
of EU funding.
1.3.4.
Insist that any powers repatriated to the UK are
devolved to Wales.
1.3.5.
Explore with EFTA the potential for Wales
benefitting from the European Economic Area’s version of the Structural Funds
(EEA Grants).
1.3.6.
Call on the Welsh and UK Governments to agree a
comprehensive plan of emergency economic assistance, a Marshall Plan for the
Welsh Economy.
1.3.7.
Demand new powers over taxation for the Welsh
Government, including corporation tax, Value Added Tax, Air Passenger Duty, R&D
Tax Credits, Capital Allowances, Patent Box etc.
1.3.8.
Call for the expansion of Borrowing Powers for
Wales to support a new programme of Government funded and Government sponsored investment,
including through the new Development Bank and National Infrastructure
Commission.
1.3.9.
Call for the UK’s role in the European
Investment Bank to be maintained. If
this is not successful then a new Investment Bank of the Isles should be
established to cover the four UK constituent nations and the Republic of
Ireland. The Welsh Government should bid
for this new Bank to be headquartered in Cardiff.
1.3.10.
Insist
that if negotiations for Brexit involve a Norway-type solution, which includes
provisions for both single market access and full, or qualified, free
movement of people, it must be explicitly endorsed either by another referendum
or by a substantive motion approved by both Westminster and the National
Assembly of Wales.
22. Protecting Citizens’ Rights
2.1. The
decision to leave the EU has the potential to impact negatively on the rights
and life chances of the citizens of our country. We will:
2.1.1.
Insist that the residency rights of all citizens
of Wales are respected, including those of EU Nationals, who are welcome in our
country and make a hugely valuable contribution to our society, our economy and
the diversity of our cultural life.
2.1.2.
Existing protections at work,
including the rights of women, disabled people and the LGBT community, must be
maintained. Many of these have been accumulated over decades and are now
enshrined in EU law and used every day by thousands of Welsh workers – including access to paid annual holidays, improved
health and safety protection and equal treatment rights for part-time workers.
EU law has also extended rights to equal pay and strengthened protection from
sex discrimination. The EU promotes the active inclusion and full participation
of disabled people in society. We must fight to retain the gains
made.
33. Agriculture and Environment
3.1. Much of the legislation to
protect the environment in Wales emanates from European directives and
agreements. Membership of the EU has given farmers access to a huge single
market; the ability to protect the origin of Welsh food and direct support
payments for farmers and funds for rural communities. We will:
3.1.1.
Insist that current environmental law is retained unless
legislated for differently by the National Assembly.
3.1.2.
Demand full devolution of energy policy, including across the
Irish Sea, and continue European co-operation and co-ordination on climate
change targets and objectives.
3.1.3.
Urge a swift review of the rural development programme to
ensure its relevance to the new economic circumstances.
3.1.4.
Advocate the maintenance of the current funding envelope for
rural communities and farmers and the development of a distinct agriculture and
fisheries policy for Wales.
3.1.5.
Prioritise a
trade deal to ensure continued access to EU markets for agricultural and
fishing produce.
44. Race
4.1. Plaid
Cymru notes with dismay the negative impact the EU referendum has had on ethnic
minorities in Wales.
4.2. This
conference condemns the divisive tone of the Leave Campaign and the racial
hatred it has incited. It is frightening to see the reported rise in racist
incidents in our communities since the referendum.
4.3. Plaid
Cymru reaffirms its position as an inclusive party that extends a welcome to
all nationalities in Wales. Migrants
have contributed immensely to our country and this conference reassures foreign
nationals residing here that they remain valued members of our society.
4.4. The
EU upholds principles of cooperation and unity and, at every opportunity, we
will maintain and strengthen Wales’s national identity as an inclusive,
progressive bond for the common good.
55. Youth
5.1. This
conference notes that leaving the European Union will result in a series of
lost opportunities for young people in Wales.
5.2. Having
access to schemes such as Erasmus+ and the right to study in the European Union
broadens horizons and opens doors for thousands.
5.3. The
Horizon 2020 research funding enables Welsh universities to compete on a world
stage and provide world class education.
5.4. EEA countries have access to
the Horizon 2020 and Erasmus programmes which underlines the attraction of that
option.
5.5. Plaid
Cymru further notes how 18-24 year olds voted overwhelmingly to remain in the
EU.
5.6. Plaid
Cymru will insist that the UK government makes every effort to cushion the
impact leaving the EU has on the prospects of young people in Wales.
5.7. To
further engage young people in politics and ensure their voice is heard, Plaid
Cymru will continue to call for votes to be given to 16 and 17 year olds.
5.8. We
also reaffirm our commitment to providing political education to young people
in Wales to enrich democracy.
66.
The
future of Wales in Europe
6.1. Plaid
Cymru reiterates its commitment to independence in Europe as our vision of
Wales’s future. We accept the mandate
that the referendum represents for the UK leaving the EU. The focus now turns
to the future relationship with the EU for which there are a range of
options. We will:
6.1.1.
Push for constitutional and legal arrangements
to be put in place to enable a speedy independence referendum for Wales should
Scotland vote in favour of independence from the United Kingdom. Ensuring the
arrangements are in place is necessary to be able to benefit from the new
constitutional situation including, (but not limited to) giving an independent
Scotland “successor” or “continuator state” status within the European Union.
6.1.2.
Demand a future relationship with the EU which
includes direct access to the single market given the vital importance of
securing Wales’s export markets, especially in manufacturing. We will resist any effort to negotiate
enhanced access for financial services to the detriment or exclusion of our
manufacturing sector.
6.1.3.
Explore all available options to secure this
objective, but our interim conclusion is that membership of the European Free
Trade Association and the European Economic Area is likely to be the best
available option for Wales.
6.1.4.
Press the Welsh Government, should the UK
Government choose an exit path which excludes Wales from the single market, to
explore all available options to achieve an autonomous solution for Wales. This may include negotiating a special
trading status for Wales directly with the European Union, as currently being
explored by other devolved legislatures, as well as associate membership of
EFTA (as currently being pursued by the Faroe Islands). The Welsh Government should reserve the right
to use any veto power it possesses to seek the best deal for Wales and call a
Wales-only referendum on the terms of any special deal negotiated for Wales in
order to establish its democratic legitimacy.
6.1.5.
We endeavour to maintain the exciting
relationship between the people of Wales and small European nations while
working to secure the rights of minority language speakers and promote the use of
Welsh.
77. The future of Wales in these islands
7.1. We
believe in a new relationship among the nations of these islands based on
equality and partnership not the supremacy of the Westminster Parliament.
7.2. We
believe in an evolutionary path to self-government but recognise that the
United Kingdom may cease to exist in less than two years’ time if the people
Scotland decide to support independence in a forthcoming referendum, and/or the
people of northern Ireland opt for Irish unity in a subsequent vote. It is important that contingency plans are
drawn up for the future of our country in this rapidly changing context.
7.3. Under
these historically unprecedented conditions we call on the Welsh Government to
establish a National Convention on Wales’s Future:
7.3.1.
To decide on the best future relationship with
Europe for Wales with the UK outside the EU.
7.3.2.
To develop proposals for a new constitutional
settlement across the UK.
7.3.3.
To develop contingency plans on the
constitutional options for Wales in the event of the United Kingdom ceasing to
exist following a YES vote in a Scottish second referendum.
7.4. In
the context of the Convention Plaid Cymru will propose:
7.4.1.
A radical confederal rewriting of the current UK
constitution, including the abolition of the House of Lords in its present form
and the establishment of fully sovereign parliaments in each constituent nation
which freely choose where to pool their sovereignty in areas of common interest.
7.4.2.
A multi-option referendum on Wales’s
constitutional future in the event of the UK ceasing to exist, in which all
options, including independence in Europe, will be presented for consideration
by the Welsh people.
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