Welsh Government Support
The UK has left the EU. Stay informed, stay prepared.
Since the EU referendum of 2016 the Welsh Government has been clear in its intention of protecting Wales’ future.
The Welsh Government recognises that the UK government has a mandate to base the UK’s future relationship on the Political Declaration agreed with the EU in October 2019. However, given the importance of our relationships with the EU we believe in a number of important areas the UK’s future relationship with the EU needs to be closer and deeper than as set out in the Political Declaration.
You can see Welsh Government priorities for a future relationship with the EU here.
The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020
The UK is in a transition period which ends on 31 December 2020. The transition period was agreed to allow the UK and the EU to agree a deal on their future relationship.
During the transition period the majority of the current EU rules and trading arrangements have remained in place. However, from 1 January 2021, the UK will have left the EU Single Market and UK businesses will no longer have access to the frictionless trade in goods or services with EU member states. This will be the case irrespective of whether the UK achieves a trade agreement with the EU or leaves through a non-negotiated outcome. The right to travel without visas to other EU countries may also be affected.
This page sets out advice for citizens, organisations and sectors across Wales about the steps that need to be taken in relation to EU transition and will be updated regularly.
- The transition period
- Disabled people
- EU citizens in Wales
- Business and the economy
- Health and social services
- Education and skills
- Environment, agriculture and food
- EU funds
- Fisheries
- Transport
- Local Services and Third Sector
- Data protection
Public Procurement
We have worked with the UK government and other stakeholders to help ensure that the way the public sector procures is largely unchanged during the transition period. Procurement rules are the same and thresholds have not changed as a result of us leaving the EU. Thresholds changed on 1 January for all EU members and we will continue to adhere to this change.
After the transition period, the main change will be that notices of new contracts will be published on a UK E-notification service called Find a Tender Service (FATS) instead of the European OJEU/Tenders Electronic Daily (TED). This will continue to be done via Sell2Wales, so should make very little noticeable difference to users. Sell2Wales is the free online service which helps suppliers find out about business contracts and opportunities with the Welsh public service.
Contact Business Wales
For any queries or issues on the SOC Portal please use the contact us link below or alternatively you can call us on the Business Wales Helpline number 03000 6 03000.
Further help and resources
Preparing Wales to leave the EU