3. What opportunities has the Welsh Government identified for Wales as a result of the UK’s departure from the EU? OAQ53210

All the sensible evidence shows that the potential economic benefits of any new trade deals are dwarfed by the negative impact of significant increases in barriers to trade with the EU. We continue to call for the closest possible economic relationship with the EU, as set out in 'Securing Wales’ Future'.

Thank you for that response. You'll be aware that one issue that regularly has cropped up in this Chamber over the years has been the handcuffs that Wales is in as a result of EU procurement rules for the public sector. Many of those rules severely disadvantage smaller businesses, many of which are across Wales, wanting to get their foot in the door, to be able to engage in trading with the public sector. What work is the Welsh Government doing to look at the opportunities that leaving the EU might bring to supporting a more localised purchasing policy across the public sector, so that Welsh businesses can benefit from Welsh taxpayers' spending?

Well, of course, one of the issues is how rules are interpreted, and they often have more latitude than appears to be the case at first blush. So, the challenge is to ensure that as we—. Our view is that the best position for the Welsh economy is broad regulatory alignment with the European Union, but there is scope within that to seek the most flexible interpretation of rules that is permissible. I would say that, in terms of other opportunities from the departure from the EU, one of the issues that we are considering at the moment is how we can better integrate regional investment funding with other Government spending. That requires a commitment from the UK Government to ensure that we are no worse off in terms of regional investment funding, and the opportunities and the rules and priorities for those should be set here in Wales. That would provide us with a base for us to be able to integrate those schemes in future. And I hope, since he's looking for opportunities, that he will join me in calling for those principles to be upheld.

Counsel General, we have quite a number of relationships already within the EU, either in our own right from Wales, or as part of a UK network, with a whole variety of institutions that have been extremely important and valuable to Wales. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to actually ensure that there is a mechanism whereby Wales in its own right can continue to engage with the European Union, possibly through the enhanced Wales Office within Brussels, but ensure that, at least if Brexit does happen, we actually have a mechanism for engagement with those various territorial bodies, the Committee of the Regions and the various other institutions that I think will be so vital and important to Wales in a post-Brexit future, if that happens? 

Can I just endorse the premise of the Member's question, really, which is the value that Wales derives not simply from the relationship with the European Union per se, but also from regions and nations across the European Union, and the various institutions across Europe in which we're represented? And I know of his own work, for example, on the Committee of the Regions for many years.

It's imperative for us that we maintain, as far as possible, that network of relationships that are beneficial to us in economic terms, but also in cultural terms, and also in the sense of Wales's brand in the world, which is an important focus. Again, that is part of the work that the Minister for international relations will be taking forward.