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.

Presentation of the structure

The Bureau des Iles Anglo Normandes (BIAN) represents the Governments of Guernsey and Jersey in France and is based in Caen.

It has been operational since June 2014 and operates under the authority of Guernsey’s Policy and Resources Committee and Jersey’s Ministry for External Relations. It is responsible for ensuring the continuity of relations between the Islands and the French authorities, as well as promoting political, cultural and educational exchanges at a regional scale.

Description of the work placement

BIAN is looking for a competent trainee to perform various administrative tasks to support the small BIAN team while being immersed within it. The post holder will undertake a variety of activities in the office but the main focus will be to prepare documents following the forthcoming general elections in Jersey, and ahead of various major political events.

Proficiency in French and English is essential, and the person will be reliable and hardworking with great communication skills. Knowledge of the Channel Islands will be considered as a bonus. The duration of the placement is set to 6 weeks, from 23 April and can be extended if the assignments cannot be completed in time. The location will be in the BIAN office in Caen. The successful trainee will benefit 15% of the French social security threshold.

Responsibilities

• Draft biographies of newly elected politicians of Jersey
• Research on relevant committees at the Assemblée Nationale
• Undertake an opinion survey in Normandy and Brittany, comprising the drafting of questions, up to the statistics
• Research and briefing work to assist in various educational and cultural projects
• Perform other ad hoc office duties as assigned
• Required to maintain an appropriate standard of confidentiality

Requirements

• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking abilities
• Fluency or very good level of oral and written French and English
• Excellent communication skills
• Very good knowledge of MS Office
• Will be subject to confidentiality restrictions/rules
• High school diploma in language or politics

Applications should be sent to the following address: contact@bianfrance.org

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; Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Policy & Resources Committee Member 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.

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.

Representatives from Jersey and Guernsey attended the annual political summit between the Channel Islands, the department of La Manche and the region of Normandy on 6th October 2017. The Chief Minister of Jersey, Senator Ian Gorst, the Member of the Policy & Resources Committee (Guernsey) with responsibility for External Relations, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, and the Minister of Environment of Jersey, Deputy Steve Luce made an official visit to Caen. Guernsey and Jersey have a cooperation agreement with Normandy and La Manche to promote greater partnership working between the jurisdictions. Alderney and Sark are associate members of this agreement.

The delegation was welcomed to Caen by the President of the Normandy region, Hervé Morin, and the President of the departmental council of La Manche, Philippe Bas. They were joined by the Prefect of La Manche, Mr. Jean-Marc Sabathé, who represented the French State at the summit.

An update was provided on the various projects that have been carried out since the last summit in Jersey in 2016, including areas such tourism; cultural initiatives; educational links; and digital opportunities.

A number of joint artistic initiatives took place around archeological sites which resulted in a travelling exhibition which visited Jersey in September 2016 and Caen in July 2017. Jersey and Guernsey were also invited by Normandy to join a European cultural network to work alongside six other European countries on matters relating to the Second World War. The objective of this network is to discuss how to communicate the ‘duty of remembrance’ to future generations.

To support the existing educational links with Normandy, the Channel Islands are implementing a partnership agreement for apprenticeships in culinary arts. The main objective of is to stimulate students’ international mobility, improve their proficiency in French, and enable them to discover other cultures and working techniques in the course of their studies.

Other subjects of common interest were discussed such as emergency planning, immigration issues and energy.

Alongside the agenda items relating to the cooperation agreement, Brexit and its implications for the Channels Islands were also discussed.

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.