Events at the international conference at Davos in January 2026 made it very clear that the issue of the UK rejoining the Single European Market and Customs Union can no longer be postponed. A definite commitment towards rejoining the EU must now be considered as a matter of great urgency, not only for political, social and cultural reasons, but in order to strengthen economic and, indeed, military security among like-minded neighbours.

Wales has always looked outward. Recent developments, such as the UK's readmission to the Horizon Europe research programme and discussions on youth mobility and Erasmus+, demonstrate what constructive engagement can achieve. The next Senedd should build on this momentum and champion a stronger partnership with our closest allies.

Key Recommendations:

• Promote peace and democracy through close cooperation with European neighbours.
• Support a pragmatic foreign policy that prioritises collaboration with European partners.
• Recognise the shift in public opinion since 2016 and act on it by strengthening ties with Europe.
• Defend the UK's continued membership of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Nearly a decade after the referendum, we must honestly assess what Brexit has meant for Wales. Public opinion has shifted decisively, a Deltapoll survey in January 2026 found that 65% of people in Wales would vote to rejoin the EU. Among 18–24 year olds across Britain, that figure rises to 86%.

The UK's Office for Budget Responsibility estimates a 4% long-term reduction in GDP as a result of Brexit. The next Senedd should press the UK Government to commission a transparent review of the consequences, and use that evidence to guide future policy.

Key Recommendations:

• Commission an independent report on the impact of leaving the single market, customs union, and other EU programmes.
• Evaluate the real benefits and losses of new trade agreements since Brexit.
• Publish findings and set out a clear policy path to address the damage and rebuild prosperity.

EU membership gave Wales strong protections in areas from workers' rights to environmental standards. Since leaving, those safeguards have eroded. The Retained EU Law Act 2023 risks further weakening them, granting UK Government Ministers wide powers to change or remove protections with minimal scrutiny.

Key Recommendations:

• Reverse the erosion of rights and standards since leaving the EU.
• Replace the Retained EU Law Act with a binding legal guarantee to maintain or exceed previous standards.
• Maintain close alignment with EU regulations on medicines, aviation, chemicals, food, data, and environmental protection.

Wales was removed from European programmes and institutions that provided tangible benefits, from Erasmus+ to the European Environment Agency. This isolation has harmed our young people, our researchers, and our cultural industries. Partnership is the route to opportunity, innovation, and shared prosperity.

Key Recommendations:

• Rejoin the Erasmus+ programme and Creative Europe.
• Support a UK–EU Youth Mobility Scheme to restore opportunities for young people.
• Support reciprocal cultural touring arrangements for musicians, performers, and creative professionals.
• Seek closer links with the European Medicines Agency and the European Environment Agency.
• Strengthen cooperation with the EU on climate action, food safety, environmental protection, culture, research, and defence.