28th British-Irish Council Summit in Cardiff, 25 November 2016

The First Minister of Wales, the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, hosted the twenty-eighth Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Cardiff on the 25 November 2016. The meeting was attended by Heads of Administration and Ministers from the eight Council administrations: the Irish and UK Governments; the devolved administrations of the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive; and the Governments of the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.

This was the first meeting of the Council since it convened in July 2016 for an extraordinary Summit to discuss the outcome of the UK’s referendum on membership of the EU. Ministers reflected on developments since that meeting and updated the Council on their activity, particularly with reference to relations between Member Administrations.

The ministers agreed that Brexit 'should be taken forward with minimal disruption' and that there should be 'no hard border' between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones stressed the renewed importance of securing full and unfettered access to the single market in light of uncertainty around future trading relationships with America under the incoming Trump administration.

The First Ministers of both Scotland and Wales also made clear that they would resist any attempts by the UK Government to undermine the devolution settlement. If and when EU regulatory frameworks in devolved policy areas cease to apply then it will be for the Devolved Administrations to decide if and how to develop UK wide frameworks with the UK government.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

British-Irish Council: 28th British-Irish Council Summit, Cardiff, 25 November 2016: Communique https://www.britishirishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/communiqu%C3%A9s/9%20%20Communique%20FINAL_0.pdf

ESO: Background information: British-Irish Council. Extraordinary Council Summit, Cardiff, 22 July 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/british-irish-council-extraordinary-council-summit-cardiff-22-july-2016/

Politico, 25.11.16: Ministers criticize Theresa May’s absence from Brexit summit http://www.politico.eu/article/ministers-criticize-theresa-mays-brexit-summit-absence-scotland-wales-northern-ireland/

ESO: Background information: PM: Devolved administrations vital to our success in the future http://www.europeansources.info/record/pm-devolved-administrations-vital-to-our-success-in-the-future/

Wales: Government: News, 25.11.16: American trade retreat will reinforce need for single market access http://gov.wales/newsroom/firstminister/2016/161125-american-trade-retreat/?lang=en

Scotland: Government: News, 25.11.16: First Ministers of Scotland and Wales discuss Brexit http://news.gov.scot/news/first-ministers-of-scotland-and-wales-discuss-brexit

BBC News, 25.11.16: Sturgeon: single market membership 'least worst' Brexit option http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-38096710

UK: GOV.UK: Press Release, 25.11.16: British-Irish Council Summit: Focus on EU exit and 'Early Years' policy https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-irish-council-summit-focus-on-eu-exit-and-early-years-policy

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