This column appears in the Cardiff Post today.

It's been a good year for Wales. We began the year with the magnificent Grand Slam in the Six Nations championship and we are ending with news of a new EU budget that will bring substantial funding to us.

It will mean that, from 2007-2013, west Wales and the Valleys will continue to qualify for the maximum amount of European aid. The funding will probably be around the current level of £1.3 billion over the next seven years.

This is great news.

If Tony Blair had not been able to negotiate this budget before the end of this calendar year, the money would have been lost. But because the calculation has now been based on 2004 figures, which show a greater need in Wales than in 2005, we will get the funding we need to ensure that living standards in Wales continue to improve. All budgets are compromises and well done to Tony Blair for bringing this off for Wales.

I'm also very pleased that the Government of Wales Bill was published last week. This will bring additional powers to the Assembly and will mean that it can avoid the logjam of Bills in Westminster, where the Assembly has to compete with UK Government Departments for time in the Queen's Speech. This will all mean that the decision-making process will be much more streamlined.

And speaking of the Assembly, I've watched the emergence on the new National Assembly building with great interest and excitement.

I know that it has been controversial, but I think we should now all welcome this distinctive building. It's a symbol of devolution and something for us to celebrate.

Wales is becoming more and more vibrant and central to UK culture.

here in Cardiff we have played hosts to several major events this year, including the Tsunami Relief concert, the FA Cup final and, most recently, the Royal Variety Performance at the Wales Millennium Centre. I have been to several events at the WMC this year - the opera, Patua Dance (which included lots of children), as well as Les Miserables in Welsh.

It's good news that the WMC is meeting its ambitious targets and filling up the auditorium.

We wouldn't want to blow our own trumpets too much, but this year in Wales has certainly had many high notes and we are ending it with a fanfare.