Les Semaines Galloises

Divorce from the EU will be painful.

The uncertainty two years of renegotiation would be devastating in Wales.

Overseas employers would not invest here. Exporters would choose to trust their future to countries where they have more confidence.

During this period, jobs would be lost. Families would suffer.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) is an independent think tank.

In a report published on Thursday, it painted a worst case scenario in which the poor would suffer most if we left the EU - because “it will be necessary to change tax and spending policies as a result of Brexit”.

Low income families could receive up to £5,542 per year less in tax credits and benefit payments in 2020.

This is not a price worth paying.

One of Wales’ most successful entrepreneurs, Sir Terry Matthews, has branded Brexit an “absolute disaster”.

 Without the ability to fight our corner in Brussels when key decisions about the single market are made, our elected leaders in both Cardiff Bay and Westminster would have less influence, less power and less ability to act in our interests than they do today.

Intelligent and reasonable people have real frustrations with Brussels and there is a clear case for reform in many areas.

But outside the EU, we would still be significantly affected by decisions that affect our major industries while being powerless to shape them.

This is one of the biggest questions on which any of us will ever get to get to cast a vote.

Together, we will decide whether this country will break away from the EU or stay part of a community of more than 500 million people.

WalesOnline and our sister paper the Western Mail believe that Wales' future will be far better served by the UK remaining a member of the EU.

Here are nine reasons why:
1. The risk to jobs and livelihoods in the next decade is immense

The major German news magazine Der Spiegel, circulation 840,000, has led its latest edition with a plea for the UK to stay in the EU - it also printed a special English-language front page
The major German news magazine Der Spiegel, circulation 840,000, has led its latest edition with a plea for the UK to stay in the EU - it also printed a special English-language front page

Divorce from the EU will be painful.

The uncertainty two years of renegotiation would be devastating in Wales.

Overseas employers would not invest here. Exporters would choose to trust their future to countries where they have more confidence.

During this period, jobs would be lost. Families would suffer.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) is an independent think tank.

In a report published on Thursday, it painted a worst case scenario in which the poor would suffer most if we left the EU - because “it will be necessary to change tax and spending policies as a result of Brexit”.

Low income families could receive up to £5,542 per year less in tax credits and benefit payments in 2020.

This is not a price worth paying.

One of Wales’ most successful entrepreneurs, Sir Terry Matthews, has branded Brexit an “absolute disaster”.

Read More

Welsh billionaire Sir Terry Matthews says Brexit would be 'an absolute disaster'

2. The sovereignty argument is an illusion - we have more power in the EU

Ben Birchall/PA Wire A graffiti mural of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kissing, sprayed on a disused building in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol
A graffiti mural of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kissing, sprayed on a disused building in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol

As the people of Wales, our interest is in having effective, functioning systems of government which we can hold to account.

Without the ability to fight our corner in Brussels when key decisions about the single market are made, our elected leaders in both Cardiff Bay and Westminster would have less influence, less power and less ability to act in our interests than they do today.

Intelligent and reasonable people have real frustrations with Brussels and there is a clear case for reform in many areas.

But outside the EU, we would still be significantly affected by decisions that affect our major industries while being powerless to shape them.

We should not sacrifice power and influence for the illusion of pride.

Everything you need to know about the EU and immigration
3. We must not rob future generations of opportunities

Nigel Farage takes part in a BuzzFeed News and Facebook live EU referendum debate
Nigel Farage takes part in a BuzzFeed News and Facebook live EU referendum debate

Young people in Wales know they can live and work anywhere in the EU.

If we vote to leave we will deny them this freedom.

They will face a future of work permits, immigration hurdles and obstacles to job applications that may prove impossible to overcome.

Hundreds of thousands of Brits living in EU countries today would also face uncertainty about their status and rights.

There are enormous benefits to the ability we have today to travel freely to work and study in Europe.

We should not squander that privilege lightly.

Life for millions in Wales and across the UK would be less rich and have fewer opportunities if we left the EU.

This is a decision that will shape Wales for generations

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This is one of the biggest questions on which any of us will ever get to get to cast a vote.

Together, we will decide whether this country will break away from the EU or stay part of a community of more than 500 million people.

WalesOnline and our sister paper the Western Mail believe that Wales' future will be far better served by the UK remaining a member of the EU.

Here are nine reasons why:
1. The risk to jobs and livelihoods in the next decade is immense

The major German news magazine Der Spiegel, circulation 840,000, has led its latest edition with a plea for the UK to stay in the EU - it also printed a special English-language front page
The major German news magazine Der Spiegel, circulation 840,000, has led its latest edition with a plea for the UK to stay in the EU - it also printed a special English-language front page

Divorce from the EU will be painful.

The uncertainty two years of renegotiation would be devastating in Wales.

Overseas employers would not invest here. Exporters would choose to trust their future to countries where they have more confidence.

During this period, jobs would be lost. Families would suffer.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) is an independent think tank.

In a report published on Thursday, it painted a worst case scenario in which the poor would suffer most if we left the EU - because “it will be necessary to change tax and spending policies as a result of Brexit”.

Low income families could receive up to £5,542 per year less in tax credits and benefit payments in 2020.

This is not a price worth paying.

One of Wales’ most successful entrepreneurs, Sir Terry Matthews, has branded Brexit an “absolute disaster”.

Read More

Welsh billionaire Sir Terry Matthews says Brexit would be 'an absolute disaster'

2. The sovereignty argument is an illusion - we have more power in the EU

Ben Birchall/PA Wire A graffiti mural of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kissing, sprayed on a disused building in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol
A graffiti mural of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kissing, sprayed on a disused building in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol

As the people of Wales, our interest is in having effective, functioning systems of government which we can hold to account.

Without the ability to fight our corner in Brussels when key decisions about the single market are made, our elected leaders in both Cardiff Bay and Westminster would have less influence, less power and less ability to act in our interests than they do today.

Intelligent and reasonable people have real frustrations with Brussels and there is a clear case for reform in many areas.

But outside the EU, we would still be significantly affected by decisions that affect our major industries while being powerless to shape them.

We should not sacrifice power and influence for the illusion of pride.

Everything you need to know about the EU and immigration
3. We must not rob future generations of opportunities

Nigel Farage takes part in a BuzzFeed News and Facebook live EU referendum debate
Nigel Farage takes part in a BuzzFeed News and Facebook live EU referendum debate

Young people in Wales know they can live and work anywhere in the EU.

If we vote to leave we will deny them this freedom.

They will face a future of work permits, immigration hurdles and obstacles to job applications that may prove impossible to overcome.

Hundreds of thousands of Brits living in EU countries today would also face uncertainty about their status and rights.

There are enormous benefits to the ability we have today to travel freely to work and study in Europe.

We should not squander that privilege lightly.

Life for millions in Wales and across the UK would be less rich and have fewer opportunities if we left the EU.

Read More

Why I've renounced Euroscepticism and am fighting against Brexit - Labour MP Ann Clwyd

4. Brexit would undermine the UK

Leaving the EU would thrust us into a period of prolonged and chronic instability.

David Cameron would come under intense pressure to stand down, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s position would be under threat, and there would be demands for a snap election so a new Government would have a clear mandate to negotiate separation from the EU.

Scottish voters may well demand a second independence referendum if a majority of them want to remain in the EU but England opts for Out.

The fractious two-year period of exit negotiations from the EU would only exacerbate these divisions.

There would be bitter debates between the nations and parties of the UK about what type of country should emerge at the end of the process.

We do not need this.

Yet the journey the nations of Eastern Europe are on is a fundamentally positive one.

Membership has compelled states to clamp down on corruption, defend the independence of the judiciary and respect human rights.

Just as Nato has a vital role to play in defending military security, the EU requires member states to adopt standards of tolerance.

The emergence of far-right parties across Europe shows that we cannot take such values for granted.

If the UK leaves the EU it will put the union under immense strain. And if it crumbles there is every chance civil society will decay, that corruption and intolerance will spread.

We are safer and more prosperous if Europe is peaceful and successful.

And the EU is a good a way as any of helping achieve that.