Welsh ministers are set to share their experiences in using EU development grants with officials from European Union accession countries.

The Welsh Assembly Government is hosting a conference on the issue in Swansea on May 7, one week after the historic enlargement of the EU.

To the end of March, the Welsh European Funding Office has committed over £838 million of structural fund grants to more than 1,780 approved projects with a total investment of over £2 billion.

Around 120 delegates from governments and businesses across Europe are expected to attend the conference.

Cardiff's minister for economic development Andrew Davies said the funds could be used to make a "huge difference".

"It will be a privilege to welcome so many delegates to this conference which shows how we have been so successful in using this funding to regenerate some of our most deprived communities," he said.

"Representatives from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Malta will be here to see how the Structural Funds programme is making a huge difference across Wales, creating jobs and increasing opportunities and to see how they can benefit when they become part of the enlarged European Union next month."

He also highlighted the EU's decision to award Wales more than £65 million from the "performance reserve" - granted because all the targets for the Objectives One, Two and Three programmes were met - as "clear proof of our success".