Author: Elise Meerpoel

Jersey elects first female Chief Minister

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 15 July 2022. Posted in News. No Comments on Jersey elects first female Chief Minister

Jersey’s first female Chief Minister took office on Monday 11 July.

Deputy Kristina Moore is the first woman to lead the island’s government. This follows Island-wide elections that saw women win a record 21 of the 49 seats in the States Assembly, the island’s parliament.

Kristina has now formed a new government following Ministerial elections earlier this week, resulting in the Island’s first gender-balanced Council of Ministers.

With Jersey’s civil service already led by Suzanne Wylie, two of the most prominent positions in the island are now held by women.

Kristina has been involved in Jersey politics for 11 years and previously served as home affairs minister.

A 47-year-old former journalist, she grew up in North Devon and moved to Jersey in 2000 when she was offered a job in local television, before entering island politics in 2011.

As home affairs minister from 2014 to 2018 she set up an action plan to improve intervention in the first two years of a child’s life and oversaw reform of Jersey’s domestic abuse and sexual offences laws.

From 2018 to 2022 she chaired key parliamentary scrutiny committees which oversee the government’s work.

In 2013 she made her diagnosis of breast cancer public to raise awareness of the condition. Following treatment she made a full recovery.

An independent with no party affiliation, she was elected Chief Minister by the States Assembly in a vote last week.

She is married with two children.

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Suzanne Wylie has been Chief Executive of Jersey’s civil service since February 2022.

Originally from Northern Ireland, she served as Chief Executive of Belfast Council from 2014 to 2022 before moving to Jersey to take up her role on the island.

She began working for her local council in Belfast straight out of university in 1988. At the time, she was one of only a few women working in an operational environment.

She later moved across local government, developing expertise in regeneration, capital programmes, economic development, health protection and customer services.

In her seven and a half years as Chief Executive of Belfast Council, she was policy adviser to eight diverse political parties and reshaped the organisation and its capability to deliver a 25-year plan.

She set up and led many stakeholder partnerships to ensure better targeting of resources to meet the needs of local people. This included community safety, health improvement, business innovation, and family support.

She is married with three grown-up children.

Cultural visit to Rennes

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 26 June 2022. Posted in News. No Comments on Cultural visit to Rennes

Since the publication of Jersey’s cultural strategy at Spring time, a new start has been made to relaunch cultural links with France and work more closely on joint projects. To achieve this, officers from Jersey and Guernsey travelled to neighbouring Rennes to meet major cultural institutions, discuss respective approaches and visions, discover the work carried out, and consider future collaborations.

The technical aspect was ensured by the presence of Jersey Art House and Art for Guernsey, who were able to discover the opportunities with Rennes in terms of visual arts.

French National TV presenting the Channel Islands

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 27 May 2022. Posted in News. No Comments on French National TV presenting the Channel Islands

Public Channel France 2 visited the Channel Islands earlier this year, which resulted to the broadcast this week of short documentaries on the Channel Islands, at the end of the daily lunch news update. Over 5 minutes episode, each day, on national news, dedicated to a uniqueness of one of our islands:

Monday 23 May : Ile d’Aurigny : un paradis sauvage en plein cœur de la Manche (Alderney : wild paradise at the heart of the Channel)

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/tourisme/ile-daurigny-un-paradis-sauvage-en-plein-coeur-de-la-manche_5154529.html

Tuesday 24 May: Les délices gastronomiques de Jersey (Jersey’s gastronomic delights)

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/alimentation/iles-anglo-normandes-les-delices-gastronomiques-de-jersey_5156455.html

Wednesday 25 May : Guernesey, terre d’exil de Victor Hugo (Guernsey, land of exil for Victor Hugo)

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/royaume-uni/ile-anglo-normande-guernesey-terre-d-exil-de-victor-hugo_5158861.html

Thursday 26 May: Sark

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-jt/france-2/13-heures/iles-anglo-normandes-un-paradis-pour-tous_5161144.html

Friday 27 May : Jersey and Guernsey’s identities

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/impots/paradis-fiscaux/iles-anglo-normandes-direction-guernesey-et-jersey_5163019.html

Annual Summit with Ille et Vilaine

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 12 May 2022. Posted in News. No Comments on Annual Summit with Ille et Vilaine

As part of the ongoing cooperation, Jersey and Guernsey have attended the annual political summit with the departmental council of Ille-et-Vilaine to review how they have been working together.

The departmental council of Ille et Vilaine hosted the 2022 summit in Rennes; the first time that the meeting has taken place in person since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The cooperation agreement, between Guernsey, Jersey and the departmental council of Ille et Vilaine, renewed in 2020 for a period of three years, facilitates joint working in a number of areas, including education, youth mobility, culture and arts, overseas aid, transport and trade. It also enables discussions on strategic issues such as the impact on the Channel Islands of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Charity of Ille et Vilaine travelling to Guernsey and Jersey

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 30 April 2022. Posted in News. No Comments on Charity of Ille et Vilaine travelling to Guernsey and Jersey

As part of the cooperation between the Department of Ille et Vilaine and the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission on international solidarity, a charity from Ille et Vilaine, Youth and Development, opened its summer solidarity trip to Senegal to young Channel Islanders. The President of the association, Tahir THIAM, travelled to Guernsey and Jersey on 29 and 30 April to meet interested young people and their families, to present the stay and its solidarity missions.

During the three weeks, the aim is to allow each volunteer to take a step back from their family and professional situation and contribute to improving the living conditions of people with disabilities, working in the field of health, environmental education, social economy and coastal protection.

Mr Thiam was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the welcome from his hosts and considered this trip very beneficial “I would say that my meetings with the families, the young people and with Jersey Overseas Aid and Guernsey Overseas Aid have been very rich, motivating and breathe new life our desire to promote the international mobility of young people. »

Three young Channel Islanders are now registered to take part in this stay with four young Bretons. A trip, which beyond international solidarity, will allow to open up to other cultures and to lead a linguistic improvement (both for young Anglophones and Francophones!). The cohesion of the group has already started with frequent exchanges through a secured “chat” platform.

Next step is the trip early August, and its feedback in Ille et Vilaine and the Channel Islands by the then “ambassadors” to promote the initiative to potential participants of the future solidarity trips.

Direct flights to Rennes with Blue Islands this summer

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 31 March 2022. Posted in News. No Comments on Direct flights to Rennes with Blue Islands this summer

Islanders can enjoy direct flights to France this summer as Blue Islands launches a new twice weekly service from to Rennes from Jersey and Guernsey. Located in the beautiful Brittany region of France, Rennes Airport provides easy access to the surrounding area with a flight time of just 40 minutes.

Rob Veron, CEO Blue Islands said, “Our twice weekly service to France this summer is an exciting addition to our network. As well as being a wonderful city to discover, with car hire, bus and TGV connections, Rennes is an ideal gateway to France.”

Commencing 20 June 2022, the initial 12-week series of flights will operate on Monday and Friday afternoons, perfect for flexible 3-night weekend breaks, 2-week holidays, or longer stays to make the most of your holiday home or rented gîte. It is possible to fly from Guernsey with a short connection in Jersey. Blue Islands will continually review demand, adding additional flights if required.

Not only is Rennes the perfect access point for holidays in Brittany, with high-speed TGV trains you can be in Paris in around 90 minutes.

Jersey’s immigration controls

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 8 February 2022. Posted in News. No Comments on Jersey’s immigration controls

As of 7 February 2022, Jersey’s Covid travel restrictions were reduced and inbound travellers are now no longer required to complete passenger locator forms before arrival, have any type of testing or be vaccinated. Since 1 January 2021, travellers from France entering Jersey are subject to different immigration controls.

As members of the Common Travel Area (CTA) Jersey has obligations to align its immigration control to that of the United Kingdom. The CTA works in the same way as the Schengen Area, where there are no internal immigration border controls and there is an equal external immigration border. The main difference since 1 November 2021, is that EU nationals must have a passport to travel to the UK or Jersey, other than a few exceptions. However due to Jersey’s close links with France, specifically Normandy and Brittany, Jersey’s Home Affairs Minister has introduced some amendments to the external immigration border control used in the UK, which allows EU nationals to benefit when coming to Jersey.

Unlike the UK immigration controls;

The Jersey Customs & Immigration Service operates a system which allows EU children in organised school groups to continue to travel to Jersey using their national Identity cards.
A system is in place to allow French private boat owners to come ashore directly onto the Les Ecrehous or Les Minquiers or anywhere on the Island of Jersey on the basis that an online Customs & Immigration declaration is submitted before arrival. The declaration is an ‘intelligent’ form which grants permission to visit the Bailiwick of Jersey without having to directly interact with a Customs & Immigration Officer.
Small business owners from France can continue to come to Jersey as part of the Norman-French market and sell their produce without the need for a visa or a permit.

These systems do not compromise the external border of the CTA but do promote the valued relationship the Island of Jersey has with its nearest French neighbours.

The Jersey Customs & Immigration Service have published the requirements for those visiting the Island below;

Visa and passport requirements for those coming to Jersey (gov.je) Private marine vessels customs and immigration requirements (gov.je)

Bailiwick of Guernsey announces roadmap to issuing fishing licences under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 29 September 2021. Posted in News. No Comments on Bailiwick of Guernsey announces roadmap to issuing fishing licences under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement

The Bailiwick of Guernsey has today announced its roadmap to issuing fishing licences to French vessels under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (‘the TCA’). These licences will enable qualifying French vessels to continue to fish in Bailiwick waters under the new TCA licensing regime. When the transition period ended on 31 December 2020, it had been anticipated that a new licensing regime, established using a track record period in accordance with TCA, would be in effect by 1 April 2021. Due to ongoing UK-EU technical work, the interim regime has been extended on a monthly basis since the end of March to allow this work to progress. On 23 September, the Committee for Economic Development agreed a roadmap to enable new licences to be issued in line with obligations under the TCA, which will bring the interim fisheries regime to an end. The Bailiwick has received evidence to support applications by French vessels to fish in Bailiwick waters in line with the TCA, and during October the review of this data will be finalised, and the qualifying vessels will be confirmed. The Bailiwick will then inform the European Commission (via the UK) of general licence conditions, before issuing the TCA licenses to all qualifying vessels by 1 December 2021. The licences will only take effect on 1 February 2022, so that vessel owners have time to review their licences and raise any queries before they take effect. The Bailiwick also commits to extending the current interim authorisation monthly until 31 January 2022 for all vessels, to provide certainty and stability in the meantime. The licences will contain placeholders for more technical conditions which may also be introduced. These relate to how the “extent and nature” provision in art. 502 of the TCA will operate, including its impact on licence conditions and “replacement” vessels. The UK will discuss such matters with the EU ahead of introduction. As part of continued dialogue with the authorities in Normandy and La Manche, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Policy & Resources Committee lead for external relations, attended the annual political summit meeting with the President of the regional council of Normandy, Hervé Morin, and the President of the departmental council of La Manche, Jean Morin, on 24 September, hosted by the Government of Jersey, to update them on the current interim arrangements and the approach to future licensing policy. Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Policy & Resources Committee lead for external relations said: “The Bailiwick’s fisheries relationship with the EU and France changed as a result of the TCA negotiations which reached a very fast pace during December 2020. It is no surprise that it is taking a significant amount of time to implement the new agreement fully. The TCA has given the Bailiwick new powers and control over our territorial waters that could not be exercised in the same way when the UK was a member of the EU. The way that we approached the TCA negotiations, and the way that we intend to work under the agreement, is to recognise that each step taken to exercise this control could impact the balance of the economy in the region, for the fishermen in the Bailiwick and for those in Normandy, La Manche and Brittany. We value our good relationships with our regional partners and I hope that the roadmap which we are announcing today provides certainty about how our fisheries relationship with France will operate in the future.” Deputy Neil Inder, President of the Committee for Economic Development added: “It is important that we maintain a stable and predictable economic relationship for the fishing industry in and around the Bailiwick. While some technical discussions are still ongoing between the UK and the EU, the Committee was keen to implement licensing as soon as possible. The roadmap should provide certainty for all parties involved. We will soon confirm which vessels qualify for a licence, and we will then issue those licences by 1 December. The licences will take effect on 1 February 2022, at which point the existing interim fisheries regime will expire. We are doing this at a pace that is right for the Bailiwick, and we look forward to progressing other work with our neighbours as soon as possible, not least resuming access for direct landings by Bailiwick fishermen at the port of Diélette.”

Jersey confirms fishing licences for EU vessels

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 29 September 2021. Posted in News. No Comments on Jersey confirms fishing licences for EU vessels

The Government of Jersey has informed the EU which French vessels it will soon be issuing with fishing licences, and given 30 days’ notice of the ending of current transitional arrangements. An interim arrangement was introduced at the start of 2021, after the UK’s exit from the EU, allowing French boats holding a previous Granville Bay permit to continue operating in Jersey waters. This was to allow time for the new Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) system to be set up. The TCA requires evidence of fishing activity over a track record period to be demonstrated in order for access to be granted. Following the receipt of data and additional evidence in recent weeks, the Government of Jersey has confirmed it will issue 64 full licences and 31 temporary licences, on top of the 47 vessels already licensed earlier this year. Applicant vessels therefore now fall into one of three categories:

Vessels that have provided the necessary evidence under the terms of the TCA. These 64 vessels with receive a licence in addition to the 47 existing licence holders
Vessels which need to provide some additional evidence before they can be licensed. These 31 vessels will receive a temporary licence, which will give them until the end of January 2022 to provide the extra information
Vessels that do not meet the criteria, and have either not fished in Jersey waters during the relevant period or have not been able to evidence their activity. These 75 vessels are being given 30 days’ notice of the end of the transitional arrangements after which time they will no longer be able to access Jersey waters.

While all unlicensed boats must stop fishing in Jersey waters in 30 days’ time, Jersey authorities will still accept and consider further data and evidence as and when it is submitted. The licence conditions specifically regarding ‘days at sea’ and ‘gear used’ will remain suspended to allow for further discussion between Jersey, the UK, the EU and France on the interpretation of ‘extent and nature’. The Environment Minister, Deputy John Young, said: “We are pleased that, following our requests, more data was recently supplied. This means we’re now in a position to prepare to issue these additional permits for qualifying boats, along with the provisional permissions for the vessels on the brink of providing the required evidence. “By issuing these licences in the days ahead, we are ensuring the fishing effort in our waters is similar to pre-Brexit – those boats with an economic dependance on Jersey waters, who’ve fished here regularly before and have demonstrated it, will receive licences. We’ve been flexible in the kinds of positional evidence we’ve accepted, using VMS information, commercially available Automatic Identification System data, logbooks, chart plotters and other written information. “The issue of ‘replacement vessels’ is still to be resolved, and we’re aware they are important to the industry as boats are commissioned and decommissioned regularly. There are a small number of these applicant vessels which require further consideration, and they will be allowed to continue operating in our waters for now while we continue discussions about how ‘replacement vessels’ should be managed.” The licensed boats will be published on the UK Single Issuing Authority website. The External Relations Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, said: “Jersey has maintained a pragmatic, reasonable and evidence-based approach throughout, extending the transitional period on a number of occasions until now, despite not being required by the TCA to do so. “We’re now in a position to ensure those boats which have fished these waters are able to continue doing so, and therefore it is time, next month, for our transitional arrangements to come to a close. “We thank the UK, EU and authorities in France for their efforts to provide us with the additional data, and I’m keen to pay tribute to the tireless work of our officers to pursue the information, collate it and analyse it. We will continue to have an open door to further data and evidence of fishing activity, including for vessels which have already been considered, and look forward to working collaboratively to resolve the remaining complex issues.”

Annual summit with Normandy and La Manche

Written by Elise Meerpoel on 23 September 2021. Posted in News. No Comments on Annual summit with Normandy and La Manche

Ministers from the Channel Islands are tomorrow [Friday 24 September] joining French politicians in an annual summit that explores opportunities to work closely together. The annual political summit with the region of Normandy and the department of La Manche is being held in Jersey this year. The annual summit has been held since 2015, when a co-operation agreement was signed between Jersey, Guernsey, La Manche, and the region of Lower Normandy (which is now unified with Upper Normandy). Alderney and Sark join the meeting as associate members of the agreement. As part of the co-operation agreement, representatives from each jurisdiction meet each year to explore how they can work collaboratively. The summit will focus on three main issues which affect all parties: the consequences of climate change, Covid-19; Brexit and its potential impact, including fishing. The following representatives will be attending:

Jersey will be represented by the Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, and Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst
Guernsey will be represented by their Minister for External Affairs, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq
Alderney will be represented by Deputy-President Graham McKinley
Sark will be represented by Conseiller John Guille
Normandy will be represented by President Hervé Morin
La Manche will be represented by President Jean Morin
The Préfecture of La Manche will be represented by the Préfet of La Manche, Gérard Gavory.

The Minister for External Relations, Senator Ian Gorst, said: “The Normandy Summit provides us with a much-valued opportunity to meet with our closest neighbours from Nomandy and La Manche. “We will discuss a range of topics including the impact of Covid-19 and how Britain’s departure from the EU will continue to affect sectors such as fishing. This year we will also discuss how climate change could affect the region. “Our dialogue has always been in the spirit of mutual co-operation; it is important for us to build on our relationship and to continue our commitment to work together.” The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, said: “France and Jersey have been through unprecedented times over the past couple of years. Over the past few years the importance of these meetings has become evident as we all face common challenges. I am looking forward to our annual summit, which will give us all a chance to share our experience, strength and vision for the future.” Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Guernsey’s Minister for External Affairs, said: “This is the first of our annual summits since the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) came into effect on 31 December last year. While that is the formal agreement between the UK and the EU, our place in it was negotiated with a view to ensure we maintained our good neighbour relationships with France, particularly Normandy and La Manche. “The summit also provides an opportunity to continue to learn about our approaches to the Covid-19 pandemic. We look forward to seeing the volume of travel and trade start to grow between the islands and France. The Bailiwick of Guernsey greatly values the continuing engagement and close working with our nearest French neighbours and regional partners across a range of topics.” The next summit will be held in Normandy in 2022.