Chief quitting Welsh 'embassy'

Wales European Centre (WEC)managing director Jos Gallacher has denied the decision has been prompted by uncertainty over the future of the centre, which is effectively Wales' only embassy.

He said that three years is the right amount of time to do such a post.

Set up in 1991, the Wales European Centre aims to promote the interests of Wales within the European Union.

In April, a row blew up over the Welsh Assembly Government decision to stop its £189,000 funding of the centre and strengthen its own Brussels office.

The centre's other members, such as the Welsh Local Government Association, are now considering whether they want to continue funding it.

Mr Gallacher has told BBC Wales that he has been thinking about leaving the job since the beginning of the year.

He added that he would still be going, even if the Wales European Centre - which has 12 members of staff - was not facing the changes which are ahead of it.

He is leaving to study for an MBA at the Solvay Business School in Brussels.

An existing member of the centre is to be appointed acting director of the organisation.

Reputation threatened

The assembly's decision to pull out came as First Minister Rhodri Morgan said he wanted the assembly to play a greater role in Europe.

It is set to double its Brussels-based staff from three to six or seven.

At the time, the assembly's spokesman in Brussels said the decision had been taken after a lengthy year-long review process.

He hoped the changes would be quick, and revealed that talks with all parties were due to take place in a bid to limit the damage to Wales' reputation.

Plaid Cymru's Ieuan Wyn Jones condemned the first minister's decision to withdraw funds by the end of April 2003.

However, both he and Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne agreed that changes were needed in WEC's administration.

There were also fears that pressure could be brought to bear on the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) to stop its funding - which amounts to 30% of the WEC's budget.