28 March 2017
The Government of Jersey welcomes the report and recommendations of the House of Commons Justice Committee on the implications of Brexit for the Crown Dependencies.
The report rightly acknowledges the positive engagement that has taken place between the UK Government and the Crown Dependencies since the Brexit referendum in June 2016. Alongside written commitment from the Prime Minister that the Island will be kept informed and will be able to contribute where relevant and appropriate, the Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, also engages in quarterly meetings with Robin Walker MP, Minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union. This engagement is complemented by regular ministerial communication and meetings between officials from Jersey and their UK counterparts.
The Government of Jersey highlighted in its submission to the Justice Committee the importance of maintaining regular contact to ensure proper representation of the Island’s interests throughout the Brexit negotiations.
The report recommends that the UK Government clarify its position on representing any of the Crown Dependencies’ interests that may differ from the UK’s own in Brexit negotiations and thereafter.
Senator Sir Philip Bailhache, Minister for External Relations, commented “We note the Justice Committee’s constructive call for clarification of the UK Government’s position in the event that the UK’s interests might differ from those of any Crown Dependency. However, we recognise that the report stresses no such discrepancies between the positions of the Crown Dependencies and the UK can be identified at present and we are confident the UK will firmly represent the interests of Jersey in the forthcoming negotiations with the European Union.”
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