Disappointed with Welsh Government’s track-record on European Funding
Janet Finch-Saunders AM today slammed successive Labour-led Governments for squandering nearly 3.1 billion worth of European funding over the past 12 years. Janet said:
"European Objective 1 and Convergence funding were hailed by a generation of Welsh politicians as a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to put years of economic under-performance behind us. Unfortunately, analysis of where we are today shows us that the promise and opportunity presented by European money has largely been squandered and that parts of Wales are actually poorer than they were 12 years ago.
"Whereas cooperation between the public and private sectors could have provided the innovation and jobs we need, favouring public sector projects has meant that these often grind to a juddering halt after the money has run out and provide no basis for sustainable growth for the future.
"We need clear leadership and decisive action from the Welsh Government now - that demonstrates to this Chamber and the people of Wales that they have learnt the lessons of the past as well as the experiences of elsewhere. I urge full and positive engagement with the Private, Voluntary and Higher Education sectors or else Wales will be condemned to the slow lane for years to come."
Siom â Llywodraeth ar ei record Cyllid Ewropeaidd
Wnaeth Janet Finch-Saunders AC heddiw condemnio’r Llywodraethau olynol a arweinir gan y blaid Lafur am wastraffu bron £3.1 biliwn werth o arian Ewropeaidd dros y 12 mlynedd diwethaf.
Dywedodd Janet: "Cafodd arian Amcan 1 a Chydgyfeirio Ewropeaidd eu canmol gan genhedlaeth o wleidyddion Gymraeg fel 'cyfle unwaith mewn oes' i roi blynyddoedd o danberfformiad economaidd y tu ôl i ni. Yn anffodus, mae dadansoddiad o'r lle rydym ni heddiw yn dangos i ni fod yr addewid a chyfle a gyflwynir gan arian Ewropeaidd wedi cael ei wastraffu i raddau helaeth, a bod rhannau o Gymru mewn gwirionedd yn waeth nag yr oeddent 12 mlynedd yn ôl.
"Tra gallai cydweithredu rhwng y sectorau cyhoeddus a phreifat wedi darparu'r arloesi a swyddi sydd angen arnom, wnaeth ffafrio prosiectau sector cyhoeddus golygu bod y rhain yn aml yn stopio'n sydyn ar ôl i'r arian ddod i ben a darparu unrhyw sail ar gyfer twf cynaliadwy ar gyfer y dyfodol.
"Mae angen arweinyddiaeth glir a phendant ar ran Lywodraeth Cymru yn awr - sy'n dangos i Siambr hon ac i bobl Cymru eu bod wedi dysgu gwersi o'r gorffennol yn ogystal â'r profiadau mewn mannau eraill. Yr wyf yn annog ymgysylltiad llawn a chadarnhaol gyda'r sectorau Addysg Uwch, Preifat a Gwirfoddol neu fel arall bydd Cymru yn condemnio i'r lôn araf am flynyddoedd i ddod."