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.

 

Guernesey a accueilli le deuxième sommet annuel avec Jersey et le département d’Ille-et-Vilaine, faisant suite à la signature d’un accord de coopération en juin 2017 pour promouvoir un plus grand partenariat entre les trois collectivités.

Jersey a d’abord signé un accord de coopération avec le département brétillien en 2008, qui a été renouvelé en 2014, et les deux juridictions se sont réunies chaque année pour explorer les possibilités d’une coopération mutuellement bénéfique. C’est en 2017 que Guernesey a rejoint le partenariat.

Le Ministre des Affaires étrangères de Guernesey, le sénateur John Le Fondré, Premier ministre de Jersey, et Jean-Luc Chenut, Président du Conseil départemental d’Ille-et-Vilaine, ont présidé le sommet pendant lequel divers sujets ont été discutés. Ceux-ci ont inclus des liens éducatifs ; la mobilité des jeunes; les échanges sportifs; les initiatives culturelles; et les opportunités économiques. Guernesey a également signé un accord cadre avec le conseil départemental d’Ille et Vilaine pour collaborer sur des projets de solidarité internationale sous le mandat de la Overseas Aid & Development Commission.

The Préfet of Brittany, Mr Christophe Mirmand, visited Jersey on Thursday 19 October, to meet representatives from the Governments of Guernsey and Jersey, as part of the growing relationship between the Islands and the Brittany region. This is the first time that a Préfet of Brittany has visited the Channel Islands.

As Préfet, Mr Mirmand represents the French Prime Minister and Government in the region. His main responsibilities are representing the state at local government level, security – including the coordination of the police and gendarmerie forces, and safety – especially coordination in the event of a natural disaster and subsequent relief operations.

Mr Mirmand met with delegations from both Islands, including the Chief Minister of Jersey, Senator Ian Gorst; Senator Sir Philip Bailhache, the Jersey Minister for External Relations; the member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for External Relations in Guernsey; Deputy Kristina Moore, Jersey Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Mary Lowe, President of the Committee for Home Affairs in Guernsey.

During his visit, Mr Mirmand discussed ongoing engagement between the Channel Islands and France, both at a national and regional level, and was briefed on matters including emergency planning and maritime rescue, as well as the Islands’ strong energy and fishing links with the Brittany region. Mr Mirmand was also updated on both Islands’ objectives and preparations for Brexit.

The Préfet’s visit concluded with a meeting with Home Affairs Ministers of Guernsey and Jersey, on the cooperation between the Channel Islands and Brittany in matters of policing and customs.

Des représentants de Jersey et de Guernesey ont assisté au sommet politique annuel entre les îles anglo-normandes, le département de la Manche et la région Normandie le 6 octobre 2017. Le sénateur Ian Gorst, premier ministre de Jersey ; le membre du Comité des politiques et des ressources de Guernesey avec la responsabilité des relations internationales ; et le député Steve Luce, ministre de l’Environnement de Jersey, ont effectué une visite officielle à Caen. Guernesey et Jersey ont conclu un accord de coopération avec la Normandie et la Manche afin de promouvoir un plus grand partenariat entre les juridictions. Alderney et Sark sont membres associés de cet accord.

La délégation a été accueillie à Caen par le président de la région Normandie, Hervé Morin, et le président du conseil départemental de La Manche, Philippe Bas. Ils ont été rejoints par le Préfet de La Manche, M. Jean-Marc Sabathé, qui a représenté l’Etat français lors du sommet.

Une mise à jour a été fournie sur les différents projets qui ont été réalisés depuis le dernier sommet tenu à Jersey en 2016, y compris les domaines tels que le tourisme; les initiatives culturelles; les liens pédagogiques; et les opportunités dans le secteur du numérique.

Un certain nombre d’initiatives artistiques conjointes ont eu lieu autour de sites archéologiques qui ont abouti à une exposition itinérante qui a débuté à Jersey en septembre 2016 et puis s’est installée à Caen en juillet 2017. Jersey et Guernesey ont également été invités par la Normandie à rejoindre un réseau culturel européen pour travailler avec six autres pays européens sur les questions relatives à la Seconde Guerre mondiale. L’objectif de ce réseau est de discuter de la façon de diffuser le devoir de mémoire aux générations futures.

Pour soutenir les liens éducatifs existants avec la Normandie, les îles Anglo-Normandes mettent en place un accord de partenariat pour l’apprentissage en arts culinaires avec l’ICEP CFA de Caen. L’objectif principal est de stimuler la mobilité internationale des étudiants, d’améliorer leur maîtrise du français/de l’anglais et de leur permettre de découvrir d’autres cultures et techniques de travail au cours de leurs études.

D’autres sujets d’intérêt commun ont été discutés tels que la planification d’urgence, les problèmes d’immigration et l’énergie.

Parallèlement aux points de l’ordre du jour relatifs à l’accord de coopération, le Brexit et ses implications pour les îles ont également été discutés.

Pour plus d’information :

Article région Normandie

Article France 3

 

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.

On 8 June, around 9000 people attended Rennes ’outdoor opera “Carmen” in front of the Opera House, on the famous “Place de la Mairie” in the city centre; and 7000 others scattered around the city in front of the 27 screens set up for the occasion.

Every two years, Rennes Opera broadcasts a live performance from the stage of its Opera House to screens throughout Brittany. Jersey has been a partner of the event for the past three editions, and Bizet’s Carmen will be screened in Jersey and Guernsey respectively on 8 July and 28 September.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guernsey and Deputy Murray Norton, Assistant Minister in charge of culture in Jersey, were honoured to attend the evening in Rennes and see the momentum of the public.

This project led by Rennes and Rennes Métropole has been developed with Guernsey and Jersey thanks to the cooperation developed between Jersey and the department of Ille et Vilaine since 2008, to which Guernsey joined this year.

 

The French Ambassador, HE Mrs Sylvie Bermann, visited Guernsey on 18-19 October. This was the Ambassador’s first official visit to Guernsey since her appointment as French Ambassador to the UK in August 2014.

The visit of the French Ambassador included various meetings, commemorations and cultural activities. The Ambassador met with members from the Committees for Economic Development, Home Affairs, and Education, Sport & Culture, as well as representatives from Sark and Alderney, during which issues such as tax and maritime matters were discussed.

The Ambassador also presented the Légion d’honneur to a local D-Day veteran during a presentation hosted by HE Sir Ian Corder. This was followed by a short commemoration ceremony at the Smith Street War Memorial to mark the Battle of Verdun and remember the local soldiers, both British and French citizens, who fought in France during the Great War. Her visit also included a short meeting with the Préfet Maritime of Cherbourg who was visiting Guernsey on the same day around other specific maritime matters.