June 2013
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The Welsh Nation Jill Evans tops list for European elections P
laid’s Member of the European Parliament, Jill Evans, has been selected to top the party’s list for next year’s European elections. Rhondda-based Ms Evans topped the poll ahead of Marc Jones, Steven Cornelius, Ioan Bellin and Gwynfor Owen. Ms Evans, Mr Jones, Mr Cornelius and Mr Bellin will be the four candidates on the Plaid Cymru list. “The European Parliament is not perfect and it does need reform,” said Ms Evans. “However it must always be remembered that it gives more funding back to Wales than it receives from us. “Until our economic performance improves significantly and some parts of the valleys of south Wales cease to be among the poorest areas of Europe, this will continue to be the case. “Research I conducted has shown that everyone in Wales is about £40 a year better off due to our membership of the European Union. “This significant boost to the Welsh economy is what is at stake by the posturing of the Londonbased political parties. “We now need to ensure that every pound we receive from the European Parliament is put to good use and harnessed to develop our economy. “Our poverty is not inevitable, and Plaid Cymru believes Wales can do so much better than we are doing at the moment. “If the people of Wales vote for
us next year, we will ensure Wales gets a good deal from Europe.” Ms Evans, a former county councillor, was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999. Plaid Leader Leanne Wood congratulated Ms Evans on topping the poll. “This has been a keenly fought contest over the last few months,” she said. “All the candidates have performed well and I’d like to thank them for making the hustings such lively events.” Ms Wood said she expected Plaid’s record of putting the Welsh national interest first to continue when Ms Evans is re-elected next year. “Whether it has been campaigning for funding to tackle our high levels of youth unemployment, championing Welsh produce on the European
market and public procurement or defending the rural economy, Jill and Plaid Cymru have always fought hard for Wales,” she said. “We have consistently put the needs of the people of Wales before all else. After the petty pointscoring we saw in Westminster during the recent vote to shrink the European Budget, which would hit Wales hard, it is vital we have representation in Europe from a party that will always put Wales first. “We will continue to fight Wales’ corner if people continue to place their faith in us at next year’s European elections.” In addition to Ms Evans, the current Welsh members of the European Parliament are Kay Swinburne (Conservative), Derek Vaughan (Labour) and John Bufton (UKIP), who has announced that he will not be seeking re-election.