The French Festival was back in Jersey from 10 to 14 July for one of its most dazzling editions yet! Visitors were treated to a programme combining French culture and the local population: wine and cheese tasting, a Normandy market, a screening of the Rennes opera, films and music. The high point of the festival was the conference entitled ‘The Franco-British relationship, spearheading European security’, organised in collaboration with Normandy for Peace, which provided an opportunity to discuss the future of Franco-British relations. Thanks to Sylvie Barnamm, former French Ambassador to the UK, and Dr Becky Alexis-Martin, specialist in nuclear disarmament, the conference was punctuated by a lively debate. If you could not attend the conference, you can watch a replay here. The French Festival once again lived up to its promise, underlining the close links between France and the Channel Islands! The next edition will take place in 2027 and will focus on the Millennium of William the Conqueror in Normandy. We can’t wait!

On 12 June, a delegation from the Jersey and Guernsey customs and immigration departments visited the St Malo sub-prefecture to meet their counterparts from Brittany and Normandy. The visit gave the various partners an opportunity to discuss forthcoming changes to British and European procedures and the potential impact on the flow of travellers arriving in and departing from our respective territories. These annual meetings are extremely beneficial, enabling the teams to get to know each other better and work together more effectively.

From 28 to 29 April, the technical teams in charge of the Jersey and Guernsey wind farm projects travelled to Calvados for meetings with Normandy professionals. Under the aegis of the regional prefecture, this was an opportunity to meet with the Réseau de Transport d’électricité (RTE), the Normandy region and EDF Renewables, to understand the electrical connection of the Courseulles-sur-mer wind farm on land. During these two intense days, the teams from the Channel Islands were able to explore avenues for collaboration and learn from each other’s experiences.

Le membre du comité Policy & Resources chargé des Affaires étrangères de Guernesey a signé un accord soutenant l’admission d’étudiants de Guernesey souhaitant poursuivre leurs études supérieures à l’Université de Caen en Normandie. L’accord a pour objectif de faciliter l’intégration des étudiants de Guernesey au sein de l’université et de soutenir les étudiants souhaitant poursuivre des études à l’étranger.

Le membre du comité Policy & Resources chargé des Affaires étrangères de Guernesey, a signé l’accord au nom du Ministère de l’éducation, du sport et de la culture. L’accord a également été signé par M. Pierre Denise, président de l’Université de Caen Normandie, Mme Virginie Catherine, directrice du CROUS, et par M. Jean-Marc Julienne, président de la Maison de la Normandie et de La Manche.

Cet accord précise les moyens permettant de favoriser un soutien aux étudiants de Guernesey qui souhaitent poursuivre leurs études à l’université de Caen afin de développer leurs compétences linguistiques et de bénéficier d’un large éventail de cours dans une université européenne. Cela comprend le soutien qui sera fourni aux étudiants qui suivent des cours de mise à niveau de Français ainsi qu’à ceux qui suivent des cours de licence.

L’amélioration des liens éducatifs entre les îles Anglo-Normandes et la France fait également partie intégrante de l’accord de coopération initialement signé entre Guernesey, Jersey, la région Normandie et le département de la Manche en 2015.

Representatives from Guernsey and Jersey made an official visit to Paris this week for a series of political meetings with key ministries of the French national government, as well as members of the French National Assembly and the Senate. The Channel Islands delegation was led by the Minister for External Relations (Government of Jersey), Senator Ian Gorst and the Member of the Policy & Resources Committee (States of Guernsey) with responsibility for External Relations. The delegation held productive meetings at the Ministry for Economy and Finance, and at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, including with Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau. They were welcomed to Paris by Philippe Gosselin, President of the French National Assembly’s Study Group on the Channel Islands, and other members of the parliamentary group from across the Assembly. Meetings also took place with French Senators, including the Chair of the European Affairs Commission, Jean Bizet, former Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Stéphane Travert, and Chair of the Law Commission and former President of the departmental council of La Manche, Philippe Bas. The meetings provided an opportunity to increase awareness amongst key stakeholders in Paris of the Channel Islands’ position and priorities in relation to the UK’s upcoming departure from the European Union. Discussions covered topics including maritime matters and territorial seas, the important regional links that exist with Normandy and Brittany, and efforts to enhance relations with the central administration in Paris. Ministers highlighted the Channel Islands’ desire to maintain positive relationships with France and its other European partners, and to continue our close co-operation in a wide range of areas. Guernsey and Jersey have cooperation agreements in place with Normandy-La Manche and the department of Ille et Vilaine in Brittany to promote greater partnership working between the jurisdictions. These regional agreements support the development of relations with the national administration in Paris, and are important in demonstrating the strength of the Channel Islands’ close historic ties with France.

On Friday 5^th October Guernsey hosted the annual political summit with Jersey, Normandy and La Manche, to discuss progress on areas of joint working that form part of the cooperation agreement signed by the jurisdictions in 2015. Alderney and Sark are associate members of the agreement.

The summit was hosted by the member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations, and will be attended by Senator John Le Fondré, Chief Minister of Jersey, Senator Ian Gorst, Jersey Minister for External Relations, Hervé Morin, President of the Region of Normandy and Marc Lefèvre, President of the Conseil Départemental of La Manche.

The programme for the day consisted of a political meeting to discuss the areas of cooperation that are being worked on, as well as a signing of an agreement between Guernsey Museums, Jersey Heritage and Normandy network of Museums (Fabrique du Patrimoine) to work together.

The day ended with a visit to the exhibition of Norman photographer Olivier Meriel. His portraits of Anglo-Norman figures form a traveling exhibition, which will continue in Jersey in 2019, and the Musée de Normandie in Caen 2020 to integrate Normandy Impressionism’s programming.

 

On 12 June, Guernsey and Jersey have signed a cooperation agreement with the department of Ille et Vilaine in Brittany to promote greater partnership working between the jurisdictions. This was the first annual summit in La Gouesnière (near Saint-Malo) gathering the three jurisdictions, as Jersey first signed a partnership with the French department in 2008. This year, Guernsey has joined the partnership for the first time, and the three jurisdictions engaged to work collaboratively for the forthcoming three years on projects of mutual interest.

Senator Sir Philip Bailhache, Minister for External Relations of the Government of Jersey, the member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations of Guernsey, and Jean-Luc Chenut, President of the Conseil Départemental of Ille-et-Vilaine, jointly chaired the summit where various subjects were discussed. These included educational links; youth mobility; sports exchanges; cultural initiatives; construction; and digital opportunities.

“It was both an honour for me and a significant step forward for us to sign the cooperation agreement along with Jersey and the authorities of Ille et Vilaine.” The member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations of Guernsey declared.

President of the Conseil Départemental of Ille-et-Vilaine, Jean-Luc Chenut said:

“In a context where temptations to withdraw from society are asserting everywhere in Europe and, in the world, it seems essential to me that the Department of Ille et Vilaine firmly reaffirms its commitment to the international cooperation”

As far as the Government of Jersey and the States of Guernsey are concerned, this desire for openness is also part of a close relationship, integrating the maritime and coastal specificities of our territories.