Agenda and minutes

1.1         The Chair welcomed the Committee Members to the meeting.

1.2         The Chair also welcomed Hannah Blythyn MS from the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee, Mike Hedges MS and Adam Price MS from the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, and Llyr Gruffydd MS from the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee, who attended the Committee as rapporteurs for Item 2: UK-EU implementation review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

1.3         Apologies were received from Lee Waters MS, Mick Antoniw MS, and Andrew RT Davies MS.

Rebecca Evans MS – Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning

Andrew Gwatkin – Director – International Relations and Trade

Emily Hole – Head of Trade Policy

2.1 The Committee Members and rapporteurs questioned the Cabinet Secretary and officials on the UK-EU implementation review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

2.2 The Chair welcomed a delegation of EU Ambassadors who were in the public gallery to view the meeting.

2.3 The Cabinet Secretary agreed to write to the Committee about the Welsh Government's engagement with EU institutions.

2.4 The Cabinet Secretary agreed to write to the Committee outlining the engagements she has had with the UK Government and EU institutions on matters such as sanitary and phytosanitary agreements, conformity assessments, mobility, improving guidance and transparency on rules of origin, as well as what engagement the Welsh Government is having with EU institutions, and what structures exist withing the Welsh Government to manage the relationship with EU institutions.

2.5 The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide an answer to the Committee in relation to whether the Welsh Government will attend the 19 May summit.

2.6 The Cabinet Secretary agreed to ask the Deputy First Minister to provide a note on discussions with the UK Government and the EU  on the SPS agreement.

3.1 The papers were noted.

3.1 The paper was noted.

3.2 The paper was noted and the Committee agreed to write to Cardiff Council asking for an update on St David's Hall.

3.3 The papers were noted and the Committee agreed to write to the Welsh Government requesting more information in relation to the UK-Ukraine One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement 

3.4 The papers were noted.

3.5 The papers were noted and the Committee agreed to ask the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee for an update on any planned work on the Culture Division leaked report and ask the Welsh Government if the Permanent Secretary will be writing to the Committee on the issue.

4.1 The motion was agreed.

5.1 The Committee Members and rapporteurs considered the evidence received.

6.1 Members considered the Legal Advice Note and agreed the draft report.

7.1 Members considered and agreed the forward work programme for the Autumn Term 2025.

Andrew Gwatkin – Director – International Relations and Trade

David Warren – Head of International Relations

8.1 The Committee received a technical briefing on the Welsh Government’s International Strategy Delivery Plan.

8.2 The Welsh Government officials agreed to share further information relating to the International Strategy Delivery Plan.

9.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.