For the European election, Wales is one constituency. In 1999, there were five Welsh MEPs - two Labour MEPs, two Plaid Cymru and one Conservative - but the number will fall to four this time due to EU enlargement. European issues have gained an unusually high profile in Wales since the poorer parts of the country were awarded Objective One status by the European Union in 2000. It has meant that west Wales and the valleys are due to receive some �1.16bn (1.85 bn euros) from the EU by 2006, although the recent arrival of ten more deprived nations under EU enlargement means the amount of further funding after that is in doubt. The controversy over match-funding for this money - which has to come from the UK treasury - was so intense that it led to the resignation of Alun Michael, the Welsh Assembly's first leader, less than a year after he took office.