Wales for Europe

Minister for European Relations, Nick Thomas Symonds, predicts that over 100,000 people could benefit from Erasmus+ participation in 2027-28. We have a responsibility to safeguard our country for future generations, and rebuilding our relationship with Europe is fundamental to achieving that.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), in 2025, British car, van, truck and bus production fell to its lowest level since 1952. They argued that "increasingly protectionist" measures such as the "Made in Europe scheme" are posing a significant threat to the industry.

The British Chambers of Commerce have warned that the new 'Made in Europe' initiative could upend the EU reset, and may be 'sleepwalking into a legislative nightmare'. Ministers such as Peter Kyle are calling for a British exemption from the rules, however, this should not be the final step.

British factories warned of 'chao's under Brussels' 'made in Europe' plan. The Telegraph, 2 March.

British businesses are facing the risk of being squeezed out of European supply chains under the new 'made in Europe' initiative. Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, has "urged officials in Brussels to classify British companies as European under the new rules".

“I do not believe that anybody voted for 1.8 million fewer jobs to be created in our economy, or for 16,000 businesses to give up on trading with Europe because the basic consequence of Brexit was paperwork. I do not believe that anybody in this country really wanted those outcomes.” Stella Creasy MP, Walthamstow

It’s no wonder the majority of the public want to rejoin the EU - isolation has cost us our freedoms and has devestated the economy. The future must be European if we are serious about repairing the damage.

Ben Judah, Special Advisor to the Foreign Office between 2024-2025, argued on Channel 4 News that moving closer to the EU is in our national interest. We are European, let's start acting like it.

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Photos of our last event - Cardiff for Europe's screening of Flags in the Wind 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇪🇺🇺🇦

YouTube video by Wales For Europe • Cymru Dros Ewrop Flags in The Wind Screening highlights - Cardiff for Europe

Highlights of our last event - Cardiff for Europe's screening of Flags in the Wind 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇪🇺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPRb...

Please follow the Young European Movement's Wales branch 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇪🇺

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A full house for the debate in Westminster Hall today on the Impact of the 2016 EU Membership Referendum on the UK, as a result of over 11,000 of you writing to your MP to urge them to attend. Stephen Gethins MP has started the debate with a strong opening speech.

Serious concerns in Wales over UK replacement for EU development funding. WalesOnline, 23 February.

The Local Growth Fund will see £547m allocated to Wales as a replacement for EU development funding, however, a Senedd committee has warned that the new scheme's £182m a year will be "less than the money received under both the SPF and the original EU structural funds.

Tomorrow, 24 February 2026, from 4:30pm until 5:30pm, Parliament will be debating the Impact of the 2016 EU membership referendum on the UK organised by Stephen Gethins MP (shown). Over 11,000 of you have written to your MPs to urge them to attend - it's going to be a lively one.

Not only is today the day that the debate organised by Stephen Gethins MP on the ‘Impact of the 2016 EU membership referendum on the UK’ will be held in Parliament, but it also marks 4 years since Russia’s full-scale invasion on Ukraine. This reminds us how important it is to work with Europe.

Cardiff for Europe - Screening of Flags in the Wind Cardiff for Europe are pleased to present a screening of Flags in the Wind, by European Movement UK!

Tomorrow 👇🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Cardiff for Europe's free screening of Flags in the Wind by @europeanmovement.co.uk, marking 4 years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Tomorrow, 6:00pm at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.
RSVP on Eventbrite below!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardiff-fo...

Cardiff for Europe - Screening of Flags in the Wind Cardiff for Europe are pleased to present a screening of Flags in the Wind, by European Movement UK!

Tomorrow 👇🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Cardiff for Europe's free screening of Flags in the Wind by @europeanmovement.co.uk, marking 4 years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Tomorrow, 6:00pm at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.
RSVP on Eventbrite below!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardiff-fo...

The New World. The unBrexited Britain that could have led Europe. London could have been the EU’s capital, leading the continent’s defence against Putin and Trumpworld, instead of a spectator to decisions it once helped to shape. 18 February.

Brexit is a clear example of self-sabotage, with the negative impacts still being felt a decade later. Research has found that at the start of 2025, the UK economy was approximately 8% smaller than it would have been had we remained in the European Union.

UK agrees drone defence plan with four EU allies. BBC News, 21 February.

The UK is planning to align even more deeply with the European Defence sector, by working with Europe's biggest military powers: Germany, France, Italy and Poland to submit plans to build low-cost missiles and autonomous drones.

With scant resources for defence, Britain must prioritise Europe over global ambitions. The Telegraph, 21 February.

We are a European country, and our security depends on acting like one. Britain’s geography hasn’t changed, and neither have the benefits of working with Europe on security and defence.

83% of 16-25 year olds would vote to rejoin the EU. Savanta for ITV Youth Tracker, Sample Size: 1,040 UK based 16-25 year olds, Fieldwork 4-9 February

A recent poll by Savanta on behalf of ITV Youth Tracker found that 83% of 16-25 year olds would vote to rejoin the EU. Young people are the future - it's time we listen to them and ensure that future generations are not held back by the disastrous decision to cut our ties with the EU.

Cardiff for Europe - Screening of Flags in the Wind Cardiff for Europe are pleased to present a screening of Flags in the Wind, by European Movement UK!

One week away 🇪🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇺🇦
Free screening of Flags in the Wind!
Register below 👇
Speakers:
Yuliia Bond - Ukrainian refugee who lives in South Wales.
Dan Tucker - Hope not Hate.
Alistair Shepard - Head of Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardiff-fo...

With American interest in European security now so unpredictable, European leaders are right to be acting with urgency on this. And Keir Starmer's strong commitment to Britain playing a central role - as one of Europe's larger military powers - is welcome and timely. Sir Nick Harvey CEO of European Movement UK, Former MP, and Former Minister of State for the Armed Forces

Read our full statement from the CEO of European Movement UK, Sir Nick Harvey, on Sir Keir Starmer's recent announcement, at the link below.

Starmer: Britain must move closer to EU single market. Britain must align itself more closely to the EU single market as soon as this year, Sir Keir Starmer has declared. The Telegraph, 14 February.

Aligning with the Single Market isn't enough - fully joining both the Single Market and Customs Union would reduce duplication, cut costs, and help UK businesses trade more easily and confidently across Europe. The longer we delay taking action, the longer businesses are going to suffer.

The Scotsman. Why UK needs ambitious new deal with EU as it contemplates protectionism. 16 February.

Increasing protectionism in the UK has led to a significant decrease in UK-EU trade, with many smaller businesses finding the increased bureaucracy prohibitive, leading to reduced, or ceased, exports to the EU. It's time to rejoin the Single Market and Customs Union, and fix our trade ties.

Cardiff for Europe - Screening of Flags in the Wind Cardiff for Europe are pleased to present a screening of Flags in the Wind, by European Movement UK!

Free screening of Flags in the Wind!
Register below on Eventbrite👇🇺🇦🇪🇺
Speakers:
Yuliia Bond, a Ukrainian refugee who lives in South Wales.
Dan Tucker, from Hope not Hate.
Alistair Shepard - Head of Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardiff-fo...

The CEO of European Movement UK, and Former Minister for the Armed Forces, Sir Nick Harvey, appeared on GB News to discuss Starmer's recent comments at the Munich Security Conference.

The Independent. Starmer doubles down on closer links with EU as he says Britain is 'turning its back' on Brexit years. 15 February.

Keir Starmer told The Independent that in the last decade, we have seen a "Britain that has turned inward, a Britain that has not been able to assert itself and influence others on the world stage or the European stage". The UK's rightful place is at the heart of Europe - let's return to it.

A closer economic relationship with the EU isn’t about choosing sides but about geography. There are three big economic blocks: US, China and Europe. We will always seek every opportunity to grow our economy, and these trading relationships, but ultimately only one of these is on our doorstep, and so the biggest prize is closer integration with Europe. Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Europe is the largest free market in the world, and is right on our doorstep. It would be self sabotaging to not repair our trade ties with them.

Our Public Affairs Manager, Joe Meighan, spoke on GB News about the importance of closer ties with Europe, and discussing the actions the Government have taken, arguing that the Government are "taking a practical approach to making our current relationship better".