Jill Evans, MEP for Wales from Plaid Cymru, explains why Wales is better off inside the European Union.

In terms of business opportunities, jobs, research, innovation, equal opportunities and much more, Wales is far better off within the EU than outside. Research by Jill Evans MEP published in 2011 showed that Wales is a net financial beneficiary of EU membership, receiving directly about £40 per head of population more from the EU than we paid in. That is the sum for Wales as a whole, but in some areas it would be substantially more in reality. The overall figure is likely to be higher than today, and we have called on the Welsh Government to carry out a study on all the benefits to Wales of EU membership. It is essential to have this information if we are to have an honest and meaningful debate on Wales's future.

This is not just about the Structural Funds. Thousands of Welsh students have benefitted from the Erasmus programme and the opportunity to study abroad, to travel, and to learn new languages. If Welsh were to be granted official language status in the EU, many more job opportunities would be available to bilingual young people, as Welsh would then be counted as an additional language - which is needed to work in the European institutions. Our universities have had invaluable support for research and innovation and have been able to develop in partnership with the European Investment Bank. Our farmers and food producers have benefitted from winning 'Geographical Indicators' which denote high-quality and have enabled them to sell their produce more widely.

European legislation on the environment, food standards, waste and recycling, public procurement, water quality and transport have made Wales a better country in which to live and work.  Over 190,000 jobs in Wales depend on the EU and it is our biggest trading partner.

But for all the advantages, Wales could do better. By working more directly with the European Commission, the Welsh government could ensure that we are not excluded from important EU programmes because the UK does not take part. Successive UK governments have tried to abolish EU direct payments to farmers and Structural Funding on which we depend to help build our economy. This is directly against Wales's interests. London government would not replace that support, and has never had an effective regional policy. 

Our aim is to transform the economy and to move out of the poorest bracket so we no longer need EU funding. But because Wales has been underfunded by Westminster for decades, we still need and qualify for that support now. Plaid Cymru has a plan for Wales's economic recovery and EU membership is essential to that.

Plaid Cymru does not oppose a referendum on EU membership. However, we do want a debate on Wales's position and for the people of Wales to decide on their future. That means that the results should be counted separately in each of the four constituent parts of the UK and a decision to leave the EU made only if all four agree. Wales cannot be dragged out of the European Union against the will of the people of Wales.

Plaid Cymru wants the European Union to become more democratic and transparent. We have called for an end to the moving of the European Parliament between Brussels and Strasbourg every month, which costs European taxpayers 100 million euros a year - money which would be more productively spent elsewhere. We want stronger safeguards on lobbying and much more effective support for small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy.

Plaid Cymru sees the potential for Wales as a modern, successful, prosperous, bilingual nation within the EU. Our aim is independent EU membership so Wales casts its own vote in the Council of Ministers and have its own Commissioner. Our immediate priority is to work with all sectors to ensure we play a full part in building a better Wales in a better Europe.