25 September 2023
Ministers from Jersey have been in Guernsey for the annual political summit with the departmental council of La Manche and the regional council of Normandy.
The annual summit has been held since 2015, when a cooperation agreement was signed between Jersey, Guernsey, La Manche, and the region of Lower Normandy (which is now unified with Upper Normandy). Alderney and Sark are associate members of the agreement and Alderney attended the meeting. As part of the cooperation agreement, representatives from each jurisdiction meet each year to explore how they can work together.
During the summit on Friday 22nd September, discussions covered various topics including post-Brexit issues such as fishing, Customs & Immigration matters; marine renewable energies; emergency planning; cultural links, such as language and education; and connectivity. Consideration was also given to broader political relationships and areas of mutual interest within Europe and the EU.
At the summit meeting, Guernsey was represented by Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, member of the Policy and Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations; Deputy Neil Inder, President of the Committee for Economic Development; Deputy Rob Prow, President of the Committee for Home Affairs; Deputy Lindsay De Sausmarez, President of the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure; and Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, President of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture.
Jersey was represented by the Deputy Chief Minister, Deputy Kirsten Morel; Minister for Home Affairs, Deputy Helen Miles; and Minister for Environment, Deputy Jonathan Renouf.
The departmental council of La Manche was represented by its President, Jean Morin. The regional council of Normandy was represented by its Vice President François-Xavier Priollaud, in charge of International Relations; and the Préfecture of La Manche, representing the French State in the region, was represented by the Prefect Xavier Brunetière and his Deputy Prefect Stéphanie Petitjean.
Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, member of Guernsey's Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations, said: "It was a great pleasure to host the annual summit of the governments of Guernsey and Jersey and the authorities of Normandy and La Manche.
"Guernsey has important existing social and cultural links with our neighbours in Normandy. At our annual summit, we review the constructive and varied work carried out together during the previous year and plan for the future.
"As neighbours, our jurisdictions share many of the same challenges, including the continuing need to manage regulatory changes post-Brexit, the mitigation of climate change and corresponding changes in energy production. Our annual summits are an excellent opportunity to share our experiences and seek to work cooperatively on matters which affect us all."
Deputy Kirsten Morel, Deputy Chief Minister of Jersey said: "It is Jersey's ambition to deepen our economic and cultural ties to our closest neighbours, and this summit has been a fabulous opportunity to build relationships and explore opportunities for us to work together. The fact that we are able to meet regularly is testament to our shared interests and history. Something that we are rightly proud of and keen to develop at every opportunity.
"We spoke about a range of issues including customs and immigration, culture and energy, all very important topics for all participants in the summit. Meeting face-to-face is an excellent opportunity to identify how we can cooperate on these subjects and work together to address future challenges."
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