Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) Leader Leanne Wood said:
“2014 will be an important year for Wales. Tectonic plates of the United Kingdom will shift after the referendum in Scotland, providing fantastic opportunities for Wales to maximise the powers we have - the set of tools we need to do the job of turning around our declining economy.
“Plaid Cymru's focus has been and will continue to be building the Welsh economy. We will be contesting the European Parliamentary election on the basis that Plaid Cymru is the only party to put Wales first, every time.
“We want to work with people in other countries across Europe to deliver decent pay, rights, terms & conditions as well as maintain the structural funds which will help to build our economy.
“Plaid Cymru supports the principle of co-operation between the countries and regions of Europe. Being in the EU is in the best interests of Wales and of working people. That's not to say we don't want to change the EU. It can work better for Wales.
“In the Euro elections, Plaid Cymru's position will be pro-European and against the politics of hate which aims to exclude other cultures and isolate the UK from the rest of Europe.
“The Party of Wales wants to see our country able to stand in its own two feet, without need for handouts from elsewhere.
“For too long Welsh people have been prepared to accept second best. We have been prepared to shrug off poor performance or languishing at the bottom of the league tables.
“I would like to see 2014 be the year when Wales says NO to mediocrity.
“NO to poor economic performance, NO to children failing to reach their best educational potential and NO to an inaccessible health service unable to deliver.
“Instead, let's say YES to aiming to be the best. Let's say YES to ambition. Let's say YES to Wales co-operating with others on the European stage and Let's say YES to putting Wales first.
“May 2014 bring peace and happiness to you and all those close to you.”
