All I want for Christmas is a JMC

It might be too late for letters to Santa (only might, mind) but the First Ministers of Wales and Scotland are hoping a letter, signed jointly and sent this afternoon to the Prime Minister, is timely and will deliver what they want.

That is an urgent meeting with David Cameron to discuss his decision in Brussels to veto EU wide treaty changes. What happened in that moment a fortnight ago, according to Carwyn Jones at least, is that "we left the field of play and moved into the crowd."

In the letter, Mr Salmond and Mr Jones advise Mr Cameron of their "mutual feeling regarding the exclusion of the devolved administrations from policy development and decision making" on European matters. That clearly includes policy matters that are devolved.

The letter says: "As you know, given the potentially serious impact of using the UK veto, we remain deeply concerned that the UK Government did so without consulting the devolved administrations.

"Issues of prime importance to the devolved administrations are frequently discussed in Brussels and we wer not sufficiently sighted to be able to manage the potential consequences and risks of the UK's recent policy decisions.

"Since devolution began, we have consistently sought to work constructively with the UK Government in pursuit of those interests which are shaped by decisions made at EU Level. For the most part that co-operation has been positive, even where there has been disagreement on the desired outcomes.

However, in this instance, the UK Government has failed to follow the principles of communication and consultation set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations and the related Concordats on the Coordination of EU Policy Issues. We have seen suggestions that the UK position was agreed through the UK Cabinet Sub-Committee on Europe, but again we were not consulted".

Therefore the two First Ministers want Mr Cameron to chair an extraordinary meeting fo the Joint Ministerial Committee to allow all four administrations, including Northern Ireland, to discuss the implications of that veto.

They've also asked for the reinstatement of a standing invitation to the regular UK Government EU policy forum - known as the "Darroch-Cunliffe meetings" - rescinded in 2008.

So both First Ministers want the same? Well ... up to a point. Both clearly want that meeting. Both want it made clear that all parts of the UK should be treated with equal respect. Yes, that 'r' word is still alive and kicking, just.

But what lies behind those signatures, a Welsh Government source makes just as clear, is not a joint vision. The line in Holyrood may be that this is bad for Scotland and an example of why Scotland needs independence but "that is not our concern, not where we we're coming from" is the message in Cardiff Bay.

"The First Minister has repeatedly made our position clear - we have continued concerns about the impact of the UK Government's approach to relations with Europe. By writing jointly to the Prime Minister, the First Ministers of Wales and Scotland wanted to show the strength of mutual feeling regarding the exclusion of the devolved administrations from policy development and decision-making on European matters that are of direct interest to their respective administrations - many of which are devolved."

"We are determined that Wales continues to be an integral part of the EU, our single biggest export market. This letter is a reassertion of our strength of feeling about the impact UK Government's decision to use the veto will have on our relationship with our nearest neighbours."

So - barring any more major news stories (and boy, hasn't 2011 had more than its share of those) that's it for the year. The event that will stay in my mind? The referendum campaign? Yes, certainly. What the Gleision colliery tragedy - and the response to it - said about Wales, its people and its communities? Definitely.

A merry Christmas to you all. Nadolig llawen iawn i chi i gyd.