Assembly to scrutinise EU funding in Wales
The National Assembly for Wales's Enterprise and Learning Committee is beginning an inquiry into the use of EU Structural Funds in Wales and wants to hear from people who have experience or knowledge of the funds.
The purpose of the committee's inquiry, which begins on February 25, is to examine a variety of issues surrounding the implementation of the funds, focusing on the 2007-13 programming period.
Wales's economic status enables it to qualify for the funding and from 2007 to 2013, around £2billion of EU funding will be channelled into Wales, managed by an arm of the Welsh Government and aiming to create jobs and boost economic growth.
Areas of interest to the committee include: the progress of the funds to date – including targets and whether they've been achieved; the Welsh Government's use of the funds in responding to the recession; the spread of funding across projects led by the public, private and not for profit sectors and the sustainability of projects post 2013.
Chairman of the Enterprise and Learning Committee, Gareth Jones AM said: "The inquiry will be wide-ranging in its examination of the issues surrounding EU Structural Funds in Wales; from the application process to its overall progress to date.
"Structural Funds are aimed at creating as competitive and sustainable an economy as possible in Wales. The committee wants to ascertain how the funding is working to achieve this and wants to hear your views about this important subject matter."
The committee would be interested to receive written evidence (no longer than 5 sides of A4) which should be submitted by 25 February. Submissions can be emailed to the clerk of the committee [email protected] or can be posted to the Committee Clerk, Enterprise and Learning Committee, National Assembly for Wales, Pierhead Street, Cardiff, CF99 1NA.