Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a diolch am y cyfle hwn i roi diweddariad i’r Aelodau am raglenni’r cronfeydd strwythurol Ewropeaidd. Mae goblygiadau i Gymru o adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd wedi cael eu trafod yn rheolaidd yn y Siambr hon ers 23 Mehefin. Heddiw, byddaf yn canolbwyntio yn hytrach ar y cynnydd sydd wedi’i wneud o ran dyrannu’r cyllid sydd eisoes wedi’i sicrhau. Byddaf yn edrych yn benodol ar y cyfnod 2014-2020, lle mai rhaglenni Cymru oedd y cyntaf i gael eu cymeradwyo yn y Deyrnas Unedig ac ymysg y rhai cyntaf yn Ewrop. Mae cynnydd cyson wedi cael ei wneud ers i’r rhaglenni gael eu lansio ym mis Rhagfyr 2014. Rydym ni wedi buddsoddi arian o gronfeydd yr Undeb Ewropeaidd mewn cynlluniau ar hyd a lled y wlad. Mae gan y cynlluniau hynny gysylltiad amlwg ag anghenion rhanbarthol a chyfleoedd i dyfu, ac maen nhw’n dangos potensial i greu budd economaidd, cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol sylweddol ar hyd a lled Cymru.

Mae ein busnesau a’n cymunedau a’n bobl wedi elwa’n sylweddol ar gronfeydd yr Undeb Ewropeaidd ers degawd a mwy, ac maen nhw wedi helpu i lywio’r gwaith o ddatblygu rhagolygon economaidd Cymru. Maen nhw hefyd wedi gosod ein sylfeini ar gyfer llewyrch economaidd mwy cynaliadwy.

So it is, Dirprwy Lywydd, that, since the year 2000, and notwithstanding recent difficult economic times, European Union funding has contributed to marked increases in employment rates, with the largest improvements seen in the west Wales and the Valleys region, up from 64.6 per cent in the year 2000 to 70.7 per cent in June of this year. Over that period, east Wales saw an increase from 71.7 per cent to 72.4 per cent. Levels of economic inactivity in west Wales and the Valleys fell over that time from 30.8 per cent to 25.2 per cent. Since 2004, skill levels across Wales have improved, with the proportion of working-age adults with no qualifications falling from 17 per cent to 9.5 per cent. At the same time, investment in research and innovation has more than doubled and the gap between the GVA of west Wales and the Valleys and the UK average has narrowed.

Since the year 2007, EU structural fund projects alone have helped nearly 73,000 people into work, have helped over 234,000 people to gain qualifications, supported the creation of nearly 12,000 businesses, and helped to create some 37,000 jobs. These achievements, Dirprwy Lywydd, clearly demonstrate the positive impact that EU funds have already made on communities, people and businesses across Wales.

Last week, the First Minister welcomed the UK Government’s further commitment to guarantee expenditure for all European structural and investment fund schemes approved prior to the UK leaving the European Union. This guarantee itself recognises just how important EU funds are to Wales in addressing economic and social disparities. It remains the case, however, that our ability fully to deliver the 2014-20 programmes as originally planned and in line with our agreements with the European Commission is still hugely dependent on the UK Government’s timescale for leaving the European Union. Within the programmes to date, we have already invested £830 million of structural funds—that’s around 43 per cent of the total allocation for the 2014-2020 period—and that puts us favourably ahead when compared to the performance of other UK regions.

Our priority is to continue to make funding decisions as soon as we are able so as to maximise our funding allocation and ensure activities get under way at the earliest opportunities, and I will be making this message clear and discussing this way of doing business with stakeholders and delivery partners at the annual EU fund information event, which will be held in Cardiff next week.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I want to make it clear that this is a pan-Welsh Government effort in which all Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries are involved. Just two weeks ago I was able to announce £4.7 million for the OPUS project working with young people and £11.9 million to build on the very successful SEACAMS project, both of which will take place in north Wales. Today, I’ve been pleased to announce an extra £850,000 of European Union funds to Swansea University to support more research Master’s and engineering doctorates for students who will work alongside companies, including Tata Steel. Last week my colleague Jane Hutt was in Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire announcing EU funds of £2.3 million for the £4 million social business growth programme, offering financial support of up to £150,000 to social businesses across Wales. More funding announcements will be made by other Ministers in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Through these combined efforts and the tremendous commitment of our partners we hope to have agreements in place covering some 60 per cent of all our funding by the time of the UK Government’s autumn statement in November. We will do so, Dirprwy Lywydd, against the background of the UK Treasury confirmation that, in keeping with the devolution settlement, it will be for the Welsh Government to continue to determine how EU funds are spent in Wales, and we will do so in line with our programme objectives and targets as planned.

These programmes were developed and are being implemented and monitored in partnership between the Welsh Government and organisations across the private, third and public sectors. This partnership approach has been fundamental to the success of our programmes and will continue to be a strong feature of the way we do business here in Wales. The programme monitoring committee for the structural and investment funds in particular will continue to have an important role to play in ensuring we maximise the impact of the EU funds. The PMC will also help to shape the Welsh Government’s strategy for securing the best possible results for Wales as we prepare for our EU transition. I have therefore been particularly pleased to see that Julie Morgan has been appointed by the First Minister as the new PMC chair and will be chairing her first meeting later this year. I wish Julie every success in that very important new role and look forward to working closely with her.

In conclusion, Dirprwy Lywydd, Wales has a strong track record in relation to European funding and the delivery of regional programmes through committed and effective partnerships. Our priority now is to build on those achievements still further to ensure that EU investments continue to make a positive impact in the lives of our fellow citizens, to do that to the fullest possible extent, and over the whole of the period for which funding is available. Thank you very much.