ONE of Wales’ top representatives in Europe is “willing to see” if EU funds could be used to help finance reopening the Aberystwyth-Carmarthen railway line.

In an exclusive interview with the Cambrian News, Labour MEP Derek Vaughan was asked why west Wales is regarded as one of the most deprived areas in Europe; what the EU is doing to help the people of Ceredigion, and whether some of the £2.5bn coming to Wales from the EU could be spent re-establishing the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway line.

Having just visited Aberystwyth University’s IBERS campus in Gogerddan, near Penrhyncoch, where £20m of EU funds are helping with the development of a “world-leading” Innovation and Enterprise Campus, Mr Vaughan was keen to stress the importance of staying in the EU.

“My main responsibility is to make sure Wales receives the maximum amount of EU regeneration funding,” he said.

“Having achieved £2.5bn EU funding over a seven-year period, I am taking the opportunity to visit as many projects as possible.

“The IEC is costing £40m, 50 per cent of which is coming directly from the EU.

“The campus will allow collaborative research between the university and business, and will lead to new products and services.

“More importantly, the funding will allow creation of jobs - we are hoping the IEC will create 108 jobs per year - and provide a boost to the local economy.

“Other examples of EU funding being used in Ceredigion include flood risk management, sea defences and small businesses such as Cardigan Bay Water Sports in New Quay.”