The Welsh Government has secured a £223 million boost to Wales’ rural communities, a day before the UK formally triggers Article 50 with its intention to leave the EU.
Welsh farmers will be pleased with the news, as uncertainty over the future of EU-funded agri-environment schemes on Welsh farms had been in doubt.
However, Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary Lesley Griffiths today (28 March) confirmed she is fully committing the remaining tranche of funding under the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020.
The funding, a combination of Welsh Government and EU money, is an investment in key areas that is hoped will help rural communities to be more resilient during the post-EU transition period.
It is hoping the money will provide Wales’ farmers, food producers, landowners and others with a certain degree of assurance that they can start to make future plans and shape their business operations accordingly.
Clarity on future funding
Clarity on future funding arrangements was a key issue raised during a number of Brexit meetings and workshops.
Agri-environmental income support streams had been in doubt after the UK voted to leave the EU, due to being part-funded by the EU.
But today’s announcement means a wide range of important schemes can now open, including Farm Business Grant, Glastir Advanced, Food Business Investment Scheme, Co-operation and Supply Chain Development, Glastir Woodland Creation and Rural Community Development Fund.
Miss Griffiths made the decision to fully commit the remaining EU element of the funding, totalling £126.3m, after the UK Government guaranteed funding for all projects signed before the UK leaves the EU.
Previously, the Chancellor only guaranteed to finance projects signed before the 2016 Autumn Statement. The Welsh Government will also provide £96.4m.
'Tomorrow is a significant day'
Lesley Griffiths said: “Tomorrow promises to be a significant day for Wales and the UK, when the prospect of a future outside the EU starts to become very much a reality.
“It also signals the official start of a period of uncertainty for all involved in Wales’ rural communities. We still don’t know what the future landscape will look like but we are pressing the UK Government to honour the commitment made during the referendum campaign that we will not lose out on money we would otherwise have received from the EU.
“I am pleased to confirm, therefore, we are committing the entirety of the remaining funding under the RDP, worth nearly a quarter of a billion pounds. I hope this provides reassurance to Wales’ rural communities who have benefited greatly from the wide range of programmes under the RDP.
“This engagement underlines the strength of the links that exist in Wales between areas like agriculture, communities and the wider environment. The discussions that have taken place have been invaluable in identifying how we should plan for a future outside the EU.”
