"Wales in Europe: Welsh regional actors and European integration"

Loughlin, John and Mathias, Jörg. (1997) "Wales in Europe: Welsh regional actors and European integration". In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 1997 (5th), May 29-June 1, 1997, pages 43, Seattle, WA.

Abstract

The phrase "Wales in Europe," increasingly heard in recent years, has provoked a number of different reactions in Wales: fears, hopes and, perhaps, indifference. Could Wales, as a "stateless nation," have a higher profile on the European scene like Catalonia, another "region" which defines itself as a nation? The key question here is how Welsh interests--in terms of the social, political and economic development of Wales--might be best represented in Europe. Should Wales be allowed to become more actively an actor on the European scene in its own right? This report consists of four main parts: 1) the economic situation in Wales and existing EU funding in Wales; 2) general perceptions of the nature of governance in Europe and of the nature of politics in Wales; 3) responding to the European challenge in Wales: organisational restructuring and networking activities of Welsh institutions and organisations; and 4) practical experiences and problems in regional development policy and research and development policy.