Author: Elise Meerpoel

A small contingency from Jersey and Guernsey visited Cherbourg and the surrounding areas as guests of the French Authorities. This follows the visit of the French counterpart in the Channel Islands in June 2017.

 Emergency planning exchanges with France are a key element in helping to protect the welfare of the Channel Islands.

The trip represented an opportunity to visit a number of the local emergency services with the intention of improving the current collaborative workings, and develop better exchanges with our French counterparts to prepare for any future incidents that could potentially impact the Channel Islands.

 It was also an opportunity for Emergency Planning Officers from both Islands to sign their existing Memoranda Of Understanding (MOU’s) with Chief of Staff of the Prefet of La Manche, and to improve and update local contingency plans.

After a comprehensive visit in Feb 2017 to meet pupils in secondary schools of the island, the University of Caen Normandy came back to Jersey for the Higher Education Fair.

The aim is to encourage Jersey students to consider taking their degree in Caen, especially as they would benefit from the support of the Carré International team and Education Department. The positive links were strengthened last summer through a visit to the campus by a number of Jersey teachers and participation in a French summer course by an officer from the Jersey Education Department.

On 22 March, the connection has been formalised through the signing of a cooperation arrangement that notably gives a number of Jersey students easier access to accommodation.

Attending university in France is a realistic, viable alternative for Jersey students. Not only does it offer a more affordable higher education option, but it also provides an opportunity to become proficient in a second language, with great potential to enrich a student’s university experience. – Chief Education Officer Justin Donovan

To note that the University of Caen Normandy hosts nearly 3000 foreign students each year, representing nearly 120 nationalities.

Senator Lyndon Farnham, Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport & Culture visited the International Agriculture fair in Paris. An opportunity to meet numerous dignitaries, including Mrs Fabienne BUCCIO, the Préfète of Normandy ; Mr Hervé MORIN, Président of the Region of Normandy, or Mr Marc LEFEVRE, President of La Manche, to promote the good products of Jersey.

Let’s recall that Jersey is working closely with it’s longstanding partner of La Manche and is having a stand within the La Manche area. A concrete outcome of the established cooperation, to mutually promote our territories and produces.

The President of Departmental Council of La Manche, Mr Marc Lefèvre, visited the Channel Islands, where he met with Ministers to discuss matters of mutual interest; including Brexit and the trading, educational and cultural links between the Channel Islands and the region of La Manche.

The strong relationship between the Channel Islands and La Manche has developed exponentially over the past two decades, with a formal partnership agreement between Jersey, Guernsey and the Normandy region renewed in September 2016.

Mr Lefèvre, who is a vet by profession, was the Mayor of Saint-Mère-Eglise for over 30 years, alongside diverse roles within the departmental government of La Manche. He has hosted the visit of many political figures from the Channel Islands and Bailiffs across the years, including during milestone anniversaries of D-Day in his capacity as Mayor.

Whilst in Guernsey, the French delegation met Guernsey’s Lieutenant Governor, Vice-Admiral Sir Ian Corder, and the Bailiff of Guernsey, Sir Richard Collas, who formally welcomed Mr Lefèvre on his first official visit to the Island.

Mr Lefèvre also met with Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations, and other senior politicians to discuss the current areas of cooperation with the Department of La Manche, which include areas such as tourism, cultural initiatives, educational links and digital opportunities.

Mr Lefèvre then travelled to Jersey where he was hosted at a welcome dinner by the Bailiff of Jersey, Sir William Bailhache.

During their stay in Jersey the French delegation met with the Minister for External Relations, Senator Sir Philip Bailhache; the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport & Culture, Senator Lyndon Farnham; the Minister for Planning & Environment, Deputy Steve Luce; and Education Minister, Deputy Anne Pryke. The Ministers discussed diverse matters of cooperation with Mr Lefèvre including the development of cultural projects between Jersey and La Manche, and the ongoing success of existing educational programs.

Mr Lefèvre also met formally with the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Stephen Dalton, and attended a lunch hosted by the Chief Minister of Jersey, Senator Ian Gorst.

The Bailiwick’s ties with France will become ever more important after Brexit. That is according to the French Consul General in London who was speaking during a recent trip to Guernsey.

Sylvaine Carta-Le Vert was in the island after being invited to act as the guest of honour at a dinner celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of Le Cercle Francais in Guernsey.

The senior diplomat spoke with members of Le Cercle Francais, including the Patron, the Bailiff of Guernsey, Sir Richard Collas.

She told them our links are very important. Madame Carta-Le Vert says the current political climate shows just how vital Britain’s links with France are.

The Recteur of the Academy of Caen (highest Education Head in Normandy), Denis Rolland, visited Jersey on 3 October, accompanied by Marc Millet, Regional Councilor of Normandy and Chairman of the Training Committee, and Christine Le Bacheley, Vice-President of the Departmental Council of La Manche in charge of Education. The delegation was welcomed by Deputy Rod Bryans, Minister of Education of Jersey and Deputy Paul Le Pelley, Minister of Education of Guernsey.

The day began with a primary and secondary schools visit to better understand the Jersey school system. A working meeting was held in the afternoon, which enabled to present the Norman delegation the pilot project of a bilingual class in French in two primary schools in Jersey. It is in this context that it has been proposed and approved that two teachers from La Manche would come to Jersey in November to conduct workshops in French to the pupils of the pilot class, with their Jersey counterparts. An opportunity for these French teachers to also improve their language skills in English.

The discussions also made enabled to go though the numerous initiatives undertaken on both sides of the sea to promote the mobility of school children and the learning of another language.

A framework agreement is expected to emerge in 2018, listing the many possible initiatives and projects proposed to schools by the Rectorat and the Education ministries.

This first visit of the Recteur to the Channel Islands was considered very fruitful.

A Channel-islands delegation comprising the director of digital strategy of Jersey and the Head of Information Assurance at the States of Guernsey have been to Rennes on 20 July for a fact finding visit on cyber security.

Brittany being a leading region in the sector, various meetings were held thanks to BDI (Bretagne’s economic development agency). Channel Islands delegates were able to present the island’s digital strategies, learn more on the Cyber Excellence cluster and the ANSSI (French national body for Cyber defense aspects) and met a sample of starts ups, demonstrating the expertise in the region and dynamic in the development of this specific field.

It was on 17 July that a new meeting was held between the Ministry of Environment of Jersey and the Regional Headquarter for Food, Agriculture and Forestry in Normandy (representing the Ministry in the region). Another meeting was held with the Environment department of the Departmental council of La Manche.

The discussions, established for many years, focused on the threat of the Asian hornet, established in Normandy, and having recently arrived in the Channel Islands.