Environment & Rural Affairs Secretary Hosts Key Meeting In Cardiff With UK Government And Devolved Administrations

Wales’ Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths today hosts ministers and senior officials from across the UK with responsibility for areas including agriculture, food, fisheries, animal and plant health. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The meeting in Cardiff Bay provides an opportunity to discuss EU transition and identify areas of common purpose to inform the development of the UK negotiating position. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The current EU framework of legislation has delivered significant benefits for Wales’ natural resources, from standards to protect people’s health, tackling pollution levels, safeguarding the natural environment and promoting more responsible uses of our natural resources. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The work Wales has already done through the Well-being of Future Generations Act and the Environment Act provide a strong foundation to build Wales’ future and both draw from UN agreements and are consistent with the EU direction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am pleased to be hosting this important meeting in Cardiff. I hope it will be the beginning of many productive meetings as we work collaboratively through the implications of the EU referendum across our areas of responsibility. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Agriculture, environment and fisheries are fully devolved matters so as we survey a post-Brexit landscape, it will be for each administration to determine how policies in those areas develop in future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Since devolution there has been significant divergence of policy and legislation between the different parts of the UK. However working together at this time is crucial to identify areas of common purpose to inform the UK negotiating position and ensure the process fully reflects the wider UK position and the devolution settlement.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet Secretary added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As the First Minister made clear during the recent Joint Ministerial Committee, we are committed to securing the best deal for Wales and today’s meeting will focus on how we can work together including with our stakeholders and maximise opportunities going forward.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​