Normandy and the islands’ museums agree to share
FISHING, border control and emergency planning were all on the agenda as Brexit dominated an annual summit between Guernsey, Jersey and Normandy representatives.
Guernsey hosted the political summit for the first time on Friday since a cooperation agreement was first signed with Jersey, La Manche and the region of Lower Normandy in January 2015.
As part of the visit, an agreement was also signed between Guernsey Museums, Jersey Heritage and the Fabrique du Patrimoine in Normandy to provide the opportunity for exchanges to take place between the museums.
The summit was hosted by Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, member of the Policy & Resources Committee with responsibility for external relations.
‘It has been a frank and productive meeting,’ he said.
‘Brexit has been the biggest topic of the day.’
The Channel Islands share common ground with the French region when it comes to uncertainty with fishing and territorial waters.
‘Fishing is the easiest to understand as we are in the same sort of waters,’ he said.
‘We would like the status quo to remain but with the UK leaving the EU and choosing to default on the London Convention, it makes it difficult,’ he said.
‘I think our partnership agreement shows we are doing something constructive together, something that nations and larger organisations can struggle to agree.’
‘At this time of global change, as the negotiations for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU continue, it is imperative for Guernsey to continue to strengthen and develop its own existing relationships, and the cooperation agreement that we have is an important factor in facilitating this work.’
Deputy Le Tocq said many joint projects had been launched in recent years to the benefit of islanders, with new educational opportunities being created for Guernsey students in Normandy, emergency planning and other issues such as best-practice border control.
‘There are still people trying to reach the UK, migrants who come from Southern Europe, some are genuine, some haven’t got the rights papers and some have got fake documents, and we have been looking at ways in which we can be more aware of that.’
The summit was attended by Jersey chief minister Senator John Le Fondre, Jersey Minister for External Relations Ian Gorst, Normandy region president Herve Morin and Conseil Departemental of La Manche Marc Lefevre.
