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Former Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Wigley will today describe how the European Union Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator was “instrumental” in ensuring Wales received its full share of regional funding.

The appointment of Michel Barnier to fight the Commission’s corner in the forthcoming negotiations has triggered speculation that the UK could have a tough time ahead with one eurosceptic tabloid’s political editor describing it as an “act of war”.

But Lord Wigley will today tell an audience at the Eisteddfod that Mr Barnier helped unlock funds for Wales at the start of the last decade.

Wigley: 'Mr Barnier was instrumental'

He said: “Back in 2000, Mr Barnier was instrumental in helping Wales secure the full benefit of Objective One funding, which the Treasury in London was until then pocketing without passing the European cash over to the Welsh Government.”

Describing the role played by then-regional policy commissioner Mr Barnier’s, he said: “It was in March 2000, when I was in the Assembly. The Objective One fund [started on] January 1 that year and Wales had a programme running from 2000-06 and what became apparent was the actual money was being passed on from Brussels to the UK Treasury and they weren’t passing it on to the Assembly.

“So, I went off to Brussels [with Plaid MEPs and SNP representatives and] I put it to Michel Barnier, who was then regional commissioner and in charge of the regional finance programme, [and] I described what was happening and he looks quite incredulous at me and he turns to his officers and asked in French ‘Is it possible this could possibly be taking place’ and they confirmed and he turned back to me and said, ‘Well, look, don’t make a big song and dance about this now otherwise it will become party political and make it awkward. Give me some time and I’ll do what I can to sort it out.’”

In the July 2000 Comprehensive Spending Review then-Chancellor Gordon Brown announced a 5.4% increase in funding for Wales, along with a special allocation of £272m to “ensure funding of the European share of Wales’ Objective One needs”, as well as giving the Assembly responsibility for managing the £149m European Social Fund cash.

Wigley: 'Barnier was very, very helpful'

Mr Wigley said: “In this instance, Barnier was very, very helpful and he took the thing to heart... At the very least we know he has some understanding of the problems that are faced by devolved governments when you get a central government behaving like that.”

(Image: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire)

Wigley will also press for a referendum

He said: “The electors voted against our present relationship with the EU, but no clear alternative model was placed before them. When it becomes clear what is the favoured alternative of the UK Government, I believe that it will be necessary to hold a second referendum to secure public endorsement of those proposals.”

Push for Welsh say on Brexit

His comments come as Plaid demands that it is represented on the cross-party committee which will scrutinise the Department for Exiting the European Union, which is led by David Davis and former Welsh Secretary David Jones.

Plaid Arfon MP Hywel Williams MP said: “Plaid Cymru has made it clear that we believe the national parliaments should have a formal role in representing each of the nations’ interests in the negotiations but at the very least, the UK Parliament should ensure that each nation is equally represented on Westminster committees.”

What do you think?

The Welsh Affairs committee has announced an investigation into the implications of Wales leaving the EU and invited people to submit written evidence.

Committee chairman and Monmouth MP David Davies said: “It is essential that the democratic decision to leave the European Union is fulfilled. Alongside this, it is key that Wales is on the front foot to benefit from new opportunities that will come from Brexit.

“We have launched this inquiry, as it is essential that the negotiations to leave Brexit are scrutinised from a Welsh perspective, and that Wales’ voice is heard.”